Varaha Purana

अत्रापि श्रूयते चान्यदृषिरुग्रतपाः पुरा । ब्रह्मपुत्रः पुरा कल्पे आरुणिर्नाम नामतः ।। ३७.

Here too is heard another story: formerly, in another age, there was a sage named Āruṇi, son of Brahmā, of fierce austerity.

सोऽरण्यमगमत् किंचित् तपोर्थी द्विजसत्तमः । तपस्तेपे ततस्तस्मिन्नुपवासपरायणः ।। ३७.

That best of twice-born went to the forest, seeking austerity; there he practiced penance, devoted to fasting.

देविकायास्तटे रम्ये सोऽवसद् ब्राह्मणः किल । कदाचिदभिषेकाय स जगाम महानदीम् ।। ३७.

That brāhmaṇa dwelt on the beautiful bank of the Devikā river; once, for the sake of ablution, he went to the great river.

तत्र स्नात्वा जपन् विप्रो ददर्शायान्तमग्रतः । व्याधं महाधनुःपाणिमुग्रनेत्रं विभीषणम् ।। ३७.

There, after bathing and reciting, the brāhmaṇa saw approaching before him a hunter, fearsome, with a great bow in hand and fierce eyes.

तं द्विजं हन्तुमायात् स वल्कलानां जिघृक्षया । तं दृष्ट्वा क्षुभितो विप्रो ब्रह्मघ्नस्य भयादिति । ध्यायन् नारायणं देवं तस्थौ तत्रैव स द्विजः ।। ३७.

That hunter came to kill the brāhmaṇa, desiring his bark garments; seeing him, the brāhmaṇa was agitated out of fear of slaying a brāhmaṇa, and stood there, meditating on Lord Nārāyaṇa.

तं दृष्ट्वाऽन्तर्गतहरिं व्याधो भीत इवाग्रतः । विहाय सशरं चापं ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ।। ३७.

Seeing the brāhmaṇa with Hari within, the hunter, as if frightened, abandoned his bow and arrows and then spoke these words.

व्याध उवाच । हन्तुमिच्छुरहं ब्रह्मन् भवन्तं प्रागिहागतः । इदानीं दर्शनात् तुभ्यं सा मतिः क्वापि मे गता ।। ३७.

The hunter said: I came here earlier intending to kill you, O brāhmaṇa, but now, upon seeing you, my mind has gone elsewhere.

ब्राह्मणानां सहस्त्राणि सस्त्रीणामयुतानि च । निहतानि मया ब्रह्मन् निहतौ च कुटम्बिनौ ।। ३७.

O Brahman, thousands of Brahmins and tens of thousands of their wives have been slain by me, and also householders have been killed.

नरकेऽभ्यधिकं चित्तं कदाचिदपि विद्यते । इदानीं तप्तुमिच्छामि तपोऽहं त्वत्समीपतः । उपदेशप्रदानेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ।। ३७.

Never, at any time, has there been a mind more sinful in hell; now I wish to perform austerity near you. By giving me instruction, you should show me your favor.

एवमुक्तोऽप्यसौ विप्रो नोत्तरं प्रत्यपद्यत । ब्रह्महा पापकर्मेति मत्वा ब्राह्मणपुंगवः ।। ३७.

Though thus addressed, that Brahmin did not reply, considering him a slayer of Brahmins and a doer of evil deeds, O best of Brahmins.

अनुक्तोऽपि स धर्मेप्सुर्व्याधस्तत्रैव तस्थिवान् । स्नात्वा नद्यां द्विजः सोऽपि वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः ।। ३७.

Though not spoken to, the hunter, desiring righteousness, remained there; and the Brahmin, having bathed in the river, took shelter at the root of a tree.

कस्यचित् त्वथ कालस्य तां नदीमगमत् किल । व्याघ्रो बुभुक्षितः शान्तं तं विप्रं हन्तुमुद्यतः ।। ३७.

Then, after some time, a tiger came to that river, hungry and intent on killing the peaceful Brahmin.

अन्तर्जलगतं विप्रं यावद् व्याघ्रो जिघृक्षति । तावद् व्याधेन विद्धोऽसौ सद्यः प्राणैर्वियोजितः ।। ३७.

As the tiger tried to seize the Brahmin who was in the water, at that moment he was struck by the hunter and immediately deprived of life.

तस्माद् व्याघ्रशरीरात् तु उत्थाय पुरुषः किल । विप्रश्चान्तर्जले मग्नः श्रुत्वा तं शब्दमाकुलम् । नमो नारायणायेति वाक्यमुच्चैरुवाच ह ।। ३७.

Then, it is said, a man arose from the tiger's body; and the Brahmin, submerged in the water, hearing that tumultuous sound, loudly uttered the words: 'Obeisance to Nārāyaṇa!'

व्याघ्रेणापि श्रुतो मन्त्रः प्राणैः कण्ठस्थितैस्ततः । श्रुतमात्रे जहौ प्राणान् पुरुषश्चाभवच्छुभः ।। ३७.

The mantra was also heard by the tiger, as it lingered in his throat with his departing life; merely by hearing it, he gave up his life and became auspicious.

सोऽब्रवीद् यामि तं देशं यत्र विष्णुः सनातनः । त्वत्प्रसादाद् द्विजश्रेष्ठ मुक्तपाप्मा निरामयः ।। ३७.

He said: 'I am going to that place where Viṣṇu, the Eternal, resides; by your grace, O best of Brahmins, I am freed from sin and suffering.'

इत्युक्तो ब्राह्मणः प्राह कोऽसि त्वं पुरुषर्षभ । सोऽब्रवीत् तस्य राजेन्द्रः प्रतापी पूर्वजन्मनि । दीर्घबाहुरिति ख्यातः सर्वधर्मविशारदः ।। ३७.

Thus addressed, the Brahmin asked: 'Who are you, O best of men?' He replied: 'In a former birth I was a mighty king, renowned as Dīrghabāhu, well-versed in all duties.'

अहं जानामि वेदांश्च अहं वेद्मि शुभाशुभम् । ब्राह्मणे नैव मे कार्यं किं वस्तु ब्राह्मणा इति ।। ३७.

'I know the Vedas; I know what is auspicious and inauspicious. I have no business with Brahmins—what is there to be gained from Brahmins?'

तस्यैवं वादिनो विप्राः सर्वे क्रोधसमन्विताः । ऊचुः शापं दुराधर्षः क्रूरो व्याघ्रो भविष्यसि ।। ३७.

As he spoke thus, all the Brahmins, filled with anger, pronounced a terrible curse: 'You shall become a fierce tiger!'

अवमानात् तु विप्राणां सत्यान्तं स्मरणं तव । मृत्युकालेन संमूढ केशवेन भविष्यति ।। ३७.

'Because you have insulted the Brahmins, may the memory of this end with truth; deluded at the time of death, you shall become so by Keśava's will.'

इत्युक्तोऽहं पुरा तैस्तु ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । तमेव सर्वं संप्राप्तो ब्रह्मशापं सुपुष्कलम् ।। ३७.

Thus I was formerly addressed by those Brahmins, masters of the Vedas; I received that complete curse of Brahmā from them.

ततस्ते ब्राह्मणा सर्वे प्रणिपत्य महामुने । उक्ताऽनुग्रहहेतोर्वै ऊचुस्ते मामिमं पुरा ।। ३७.

Then all those Brahmins, bowing to the great sage, spoke to me before, for the sake of granting favor.

षष्ठान्नकालिकस्याग्रे यस्ते स्थास्यति कश्चन । स भक्ष्यस्ते तु भविता कंचित्कालं नराधम ।। ३७.

'Whoever stands before you at the sixth meal-time, O lowest of men, that one will become your food for a certain time.'

यदेषुघातं लब्ध्वा तु प्राणैः कण्ठगतैर्भवान् । श्रोष्यसे द्विजवक्त्रात् तु नमो नारायणेति हि । तदा स्वर्गगतिस्तुभ्यं भविता नात्र संशयः ।। ३७.

'When, having been struck by an arrow, with life lingering in your throat, you hear from the mouth of a Brahmin the words "Obeisance to Nārāyaṇa," then you will attain heaven—of this there is no doubt.'

परवक्त्रगतस्यापि विष्णोर्नाम श्रुतं मया । लब्धद्वेषस्य विप्राणां प्रत्यक्षं तव सत्तम ।। ३७.

'Even if Viṣṇu's name is heard from another's mouth, I have heard, O best of beings, that for one who has incurred the Brahmins' wrath, it is manifest.'

यः पुनर्ब्राह्मणान् पूज्य स्ववक्त्रेण नमो हरिम् । वदन् प्राणं विमुच्येत मुक्तौऽसौ वीतकिल्बिषः ।।। ३७.

Whoever, honoring Brahmins, utters 'Salutations to Hari' with his own mouth and departs his life, is freed from sin and attains liberation.

सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यमुत्क्षिप्य भुजमुच्यते । जङ्गमा ब्राह्मणा देवाः कूटस्थः पुरुषोत्तमः ।। ३७.

This is truth, indeed, again and again, truth—raising my arm, I declare: Brahmins who move about are gods; the Supreme Person is unchanging.

एवमुक्त्वा गतः स्वर्गं स राजा वीतकल्मषः । ब्राह्मणोऽपि सदायुक्तस्तं व्याधं प्रत्यभाषत ।। ३७.

Having spoken thus, the king, freed from faults, went to heaven; and the Brahmin, always steadfast, addressed the hunter.

ऋषिरुवाच । जिघृक्षोर्मृगराजस्य यत्त्वया रक्षितो ह्यहम् । तत्पुत्र तुष्टस्ते दद्मि वरं वरय सुव्रत ।। ३७.

The sage said: Because you protected me when the king of beasts sought to seize me, I am pleased with you, O virtuous one; ask for a boon, I grant it.