Varaha Purana

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.

व्याध उवाच । एष एव वरो मह्यं यत् त्वं मां भाषसे द्विज । अतः परं वरेणाहं किं करोमि प्रशाधि माम् ।। ३७.

The hunter said: This alone is the boon for me—that you speak to me, O twice-born; what need have I for any other boon? Please instruct me.

ऋषिरुवाच । अहं त्वया पुरा पुत्र प्रार्थितोऽस्मि तपोऽर्थिना । बहुपातकयुक्तेन घोररूपेण चानघ ।। ३७.

The sage said: Formerly, O son, you sought me for penance, though you were burdened with many sins and had a terrible form, O sinless one.

इदानीं तव पापानि देविकाभिषवेण च । मद्दर्शनेन च चिरं विष्णुनामश्रुतेन च । नष्टानि शुद्धदेहोऽसि सांप्रतं नात्र संशयः ।। ३७.

Now, your sins have been destroyed by the ablution in Devikā, by seeing me for a long time, and by hearing the name of Viṣṇu; you are purified in body at this moment—there is no doubt.

इदानीं वरमेकं त्वं गृहाण मम सन्निधौ । तपः कुरुष्व साधो त्वं चिरकालं यदीच्छसि ।। ३७.

Now, in my presence, accept one boon: perform penance, O virtuous one, for as long as you desire.

व्याध उवाच । य एष भवता प्रोक्तो विष्णुर्नारायणः प्रभुः । स कथं प्राप्यते मर्त्यैरेष एव वरो मम ।। ३७.

The hunter said: This Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa, the Lord, whom you have spoken of—how is he attained by mortals? This alone is my boon.

ऋषिरुवाच । तमुद्दिश्य व्रतं कुर्याद् यत्किंचित्पुरुषोऽच्युतम् । स परं तमवाप्नोति भक्तया युक्तः पुमानिति ।। ३७.

The sage said: If a person undertakes a vow for Acyuta, however small, he attains the Supreme, being endowed with devotion.

एवं ज्ञात्वा भवान् पुत्र व्रतमेतत् समाचर । न भक्षयेद् गणान्नं तु न वदेदनृतं क्वचित् ।। ३७.

Thus knowing, O son, you should practice this vow: do not eat food from a group, and never speak falsehood anywhere.

एतत् ते व्रतमादिष्टं मया व्याधवर ध्रुवम् । अत्रैवं तपसा युक्तस्तिष्ठ त्वं यावदिच्छसि ।। ३७.

This vow has been prescribed for you by me, O best of hunters, certainly; here, engaged in penance, remain as long as you wish.

श्रीवराह उवाच । एवं चिन्तान्वितं मत्वा वरदो ब्राह्मणोऽभवत् । मोक्षार्थिनमथो बुद्ध्वा वञ्चयित्वा गतो मुनिः ।। ३७.

Śrī Varāha said: Thus, considering with thought, the Brahmin became a giver of boons; realizing the hunter sought liberation, the sage departed, having deceived him.

श्रीवराह उवाच । स शुभं शोभनं मार्गमास्थाय व्याधसत्तमः । तपस्तेपे निराहारस्तं गुरुं मनसा स्मरन् ।। ३८.

Śrī Varāha said: The excellent hunter, taking up the auspicious and beautiful path, performed penance without food, remembering his teacher in his mind.