Varaha Purana

दुर्वासा उवाच । कथयामि परं गुह्यं रहस्यं देवनिर्मितम् । धरण्या यत्कृतं पूर्वं मज्जन्त्या तु रसातले ।। ३९.

Durvasa said: I will tell you the supreme secret, a mystery created by the gods, which was performed by the Earth when she was sinking into the netherworld.

पृथिव्याः पार्थिवो भावः सलिले नातिरेचितः । तस्मिन् सलिलमग्ने तु पृथ्वी प्रायाद् रसातलम् ।। ३९.

The earthly nature of the earth was not excessive in the waters; when the earth was submerged in the waters, she went to the netherworld.

सा भूतधारिणी देवी रसातलगता शुभा । आराधयामास विभुं देवं नारायणं परम् । उपवासव्रतैर्देवी नियमैश्च पृथग्विधैः ।। ३९.

That auspicious goddess, the supporter of beings, having gone to the netherworld, worshipped the Supreme Lord Narayana with fasting, vows, and various disciplines.

कालेन महता तस्याः प्रसन्नो गरुडध्वजः । उज्जहार स्थितौ चेमां स्थापयामास सोऽव्ययः ।। ३९.

After a long time, the Lord with the Garuda banner, pleased with her, lifted her up and established her in her place; that imperishable one did so.

सत्यतपा उवाच । कोऽसौ धरण्या संचीर्ण उपवासो महामुने । कानि व्रतानि च तथा एतन्मे वक्तुमर्हसि ।। ३९.

Satyatapa said: O great sage, what was the fast observed by the Earth? What were the vows? You ought to tell me this.

दुर्वासा उवाच । यदा मार्गशिरे मासि दशम्यां नियतात्मवान् । कृत्वा देवार्चनं धीमानग्निकार्यं यथाविधि ।। ३९.

Durvasa said: When, in the month of Margashirsha, on the tenth day, a self-controlled person, having worshipped the gods and performed the fire ritual as prescribed—

शुचिवासाः प्रसन्नात्मा हव्यमन्नं सुसंस्कृतम् । भुक्त्वा पञ्चपदं गत्वा पुनः शौचं तु पादयोः ।। ३९.

Wearing clean clothes, with a serene mind, having eaten well-prepared sacrificial food, and after walking five steps, one should again wash the feet.

कृत्वाऽष्टाङ्गुलमात्रं तु क्षीरवृक्षसमुद्भवम् । भक्षयेद् दन्तकाष्ठं तु तत आचम्य यत्नतः ।। ३९.

Taking a stick of about eight finger-breadths, made from a milk-bearing tree, one should use it as a tooth-cleaner, and then carefully perform ācamana (ritual sipping of water).

स्पृष्ट्वा द्वाराणि सर्वाणि चिरं ध्यात्वा जनार्दनम् । शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिं किरीटिं पीतवाससम् ।। ३९.

After touching all the doors and meditating for a long time on Janārdana, who holds the conch, discus, and mace, who wears a crown and yellow garments,

प्रसन्नवदनं देवं सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम् । ध्यात्वा पुनर्जलं हस्ते गृह्य भानुं जनार्दनम् ।। ३९.

Meditating on the Lord with a gracious face, marked by all auspicious signs, one should again take water in hand, contemplating Janārdana, the sun-like one.

ध्यात्वाऽर्ध्यं दापयेत् तस्य करतोयेन मानवः । एवमुच्चारयेद् वाचं तस्मिन् काले महामुने ।। ३९.

Having meditated, a person should offer arghya (water offering) with his hand, and at that time, O great sage, he should recite the following words:

एकादश्यां निराहारः स्थित्वाऽहमपरेऽहनि । भोक्ष्यामि पुण्डरीकाक्ष शरणं मे भवाच्युत ।। ३९.

On the day of Ekādaśī, I will remain without food and on the following day I shall eat, O lotus-eyed one. O Acyuta, be my refuge.

एवमुक्त्वा ततो रात्रौ देवदेवस्य सन्निधौ । जपन्नारायणायेति स्वपेत् तत्र विधानतः ।। ३९.

Having spoken thus, then at night, in the presence of the Lord of gods, one should sleep there according to the rule, reciting 'Nārāyaṇāya' (obeisance to Nārāyaṇa).

ततः प्रभाते विमले नदीं गत्वा समुद्रगाम् । इतरां वा तडागं वा गृहे वा नियतात्मवान् ।। ३९.

Then, in the pure morning, going to a river that flows to the ocean, or to another pond, or at home, with a controlled mind,

आनीय मृत्तिकां शुद्धां मन्त्रेणानेन मानवः । धारणं पोषणं त्वत्तो भूतानां देवि सर्वदा । तेन सत्येन मे पापं यावन्मोचय सुव्रते ।। ३९.

One should bring pure clay, reciting this mantra: 'O goddess, from you comes the support and nourishment of beings always; by that truth, O virtuous one, free me from sin.'

ब्रह्माण्डोदरतीर्थानि करैः स्पृष्टानि देव ते । तेनेमां मृत्तिकां स्पृष्ट्वा मा लभामि त्वयोदिताम् ।। ३९.

'O god, the sacred places within the cosmic egg have been touched by your hands; by touching this clay, may I not obtain what you have declared.'

त्वयि सर्वे रसा नित्याः स्थिता वरुण सर्वदा । तेनेमां मृत्तिकां प्लाव्य पूतां कुरु ममाचिरम् ।। ३९.

'In you, O Varuṇa, all waters always abide; by that, make this clay, after washing, pure for me without delay.'

एवं मृदं तथा तोयं प्रसाद्यात्मानमालभेत् । त्रिः कृत्वा शेषमृदया कुण्डमालिख्य वै जले ।। ३९.

Thus, having purified oneself with clay and water, one should cleanse oneself; after doing this three times, one should draw a circle with the remaining clay in the water.

ततस्तत्र नरः सम्यक् चक्रवर्त्युपचारतः । स्नात्वा चावश्यकं कृत्वा पुनर्देवगृहं व्रजेत् ।। ३९.

Then, there, following the proper procedure as for a universal monarch, after bathing and performing the necessary rites, one should return again to the temple of the gods.

तत्राराध्य महायोगिं देवं नारायणं प्रभुम् । केशवाय नमः पादौ कटिं दामोदराय च ।। ३९.

There, worshipping the great yogi, the Lord Nārāyaṇa, one should say: 'Obeisance to Keśava' at the feet, 'to Dāmodara' at the waist,

ऊरुयुग्मं नृसिंहाय उरः श्रीवत्सधारिणे । कण्ठं कौस्तुभनाथाय वक्षः श्रीपतये तथा ।। ३९.

'To Nṛsiṃha' at both thighs, 'to the bearer of Śrīvatsa' at the chest, 'to the Lord of Kaustubha' at the neck, and 'to the Lord of Śrī' at the bosom.'

त्रैलोक्यविजयायेति बाहू सर्वात्मने शिरः । रथाङ्गधारिणे चक्रं शंकरायेति वारिजम् ।। ३९.

'To the conqueror of the three worlds' at the arms, 'to the soul of all' at the head, 'to the bearer of the discus' at the wheel, and 'to Śaṅkara' at the lotus.'

गम्भीरायेति च गदामम्भोजं शान्तिमूर्त्तये । एवमभ्यर्च्य देवेशं देवं नारायणं प्रभुम् ।। ३९.

'To the deep one' at the mace, 'to the embodiment of peace' at the lotus; thus, having worshipped the Lord of gods, the Lord Nārāyaṇa,'

पुनस्तस्याग्रतः कुम्भान् चतुरः स्थापयेद् बुधः । जलपूर्णान् समाल्यांश्च सितचन्दनलेपितान् ।। ३९.

Again, in front of him, the wise one should place four pots, filled with water, adorned with garlands, and smeared with white sandalwood.

चूतपल्लवसग्रीवान् सितवस्त्रावगुण्ठितान् । स्थगितान् ताम्रपात्रैश्च तिलपूर्णैः सकाञ्चनैः ।। ३९.

With mango leaves around their necks, covered with white cloth, set upon copper vessels filled with sesame seeds and gold.

चत्वारस्ते समुद्रास्तु कलशाः परिकीर्तिताः । तेषां मध्ये शुभं पीठं स्थापयेद् वस्त्रगर्भितम् ।। ३९.

Let four pots be set out as the four oceans are described; in their midst, establish an auspicious seat wrapped in cloth.

तस्मिन् सौवर्णरौप्यं वा ताम्रं वा दारवं तथा । अलाभे सर्वपात्राणां पालाशं पात्रमिष्यते ।। ३९.

Upon that, place a vessel of gold, or silver, or copper, or wood; if none of these are available, a vessel made of palāśa wood is acceptable.

तोयपूर्णं तु तत्कृत्वा तस्मिन् पात्रे ततो न्यसेत् । सौवर्णं मत्स्य्रूपेण कृत्वा देवं जनार्दम् । वेदवेदाङ्गसंयुक्तं श्रुतिस्मृतिविभूषितम् ।। ३९.

Having filled that vessel with water, then place within it an image of the deity Janārdana in the form of a fish, made of gold, adorned with the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, and embellished with Śruti and Smṛti.

तत्रानेकविधैर्भक्षैः फलैः पुष्पैश्च शोभितम् । गन्धधूपैश्च वस्त्रैश्च अर्चयित्वा यथाविधि ।। ३९.

There, after adorning it with various kinds of food, fruits, and flowers, and honoring it with fragrances, incense, and cloths, worship should be performed according to proper procedure.