Varaha Purana

यदि वक्त्रसहस्त्राणि भवन्ति मम सुव्रत । आयुश्च ब्रह्मणस्तुल्यं भवेद् यदि महाव्रत ।। ३९.

Even if I had a thousand mouths, O virtuous one, and a lifespan equal to Brahmā's, O great vow-keeper,

तदानीमस्य धर्मस्य फलं कथयितुं भवेत् । तथाप्युद्देशतो ब्रह्मन् कथयामि श्रृणुष्व तत् ।। ३९.

Even then, I could not fully describe the fruit of this observance; yet, O brāhmaṇa, I will tell you its outline—listen to it.

दश सप्त दश द्वे च अष्टौ चत्वार एव च । लक्षायुतानि चत्वारि एकस्थं स्याच्चतुर्युगम् ।। ३९.

Ten, seven, ten, two, eight, and four—these are the numbers; four lakhs and ten thousand make up one caturyuga.

तैरेकसप्ततियुगं भवेन्मन्वन्तरं मुने । चतुर्दशाहो ब्राह्मस्तु तावती रात्रिरिष्यते ।। ३९.

O sage, seventy-one yugas together make one Manvantara; and fourteen such periods are said to be a day of Brahmā, with a night of equal length.

एवं त्रिंशद्दिनो मासस्ते द्वादश समा स्मृता । तेषां शतं ब्रह्मणस्तु आयुर्नास्त्यत्र संशयः ।। ३९.

In this way, a month consists of thirty days, and twelve such months are considered a year; there is no doubt that a hundred such years is the lifespan of Brahmā.

यः सकृद् द्वादशीमेतामनेन विधिना क्षिपेत् । स ब्रह्मलोकमाप्नोति तत्कालं चैव तिष्ठति ।। ३९.

Whoever observes this Dvādaśī even once, according to this rule, attains Brahmaloka and remains there for that period.

ततो ब्रह्मोपसंहारे तल्लयं तिष्ठते चिरम् । पुनः सृष्टौ भवेद् देवो वैराजानां महातपाः ।। ३९.

Then, at the dissolution of Brahmā, he remains merged for a long time, and at the next creation, he is born as a god among the great ascetics called Vairājas.

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि इह लोककृतान्यपि । अकामे कामतो वापि तानि नश्यन्ति तत्क्षणात् ।। ३९.

Sins such as killing a Brāhmaṇa and others, even those committed in this world, whether intentionally or unintentionally, are destroyed instantly by this.

इह लोके दरिद्रो यो भ्रष्टराज्योऽथ वा नृपः । उपोष्य तां विधानेन स राजा जायते ध्रुवम् ।। ३९.

In this world, a poor man or a king who has lost his kingdom, by observing this according to the rule, certainly becomes a king.

वन्ध्या नारी भवेद् या तु अनेन विधिना शुभा । उपोष्यति भवेत् तस्याः पुत्रः परमधार्मिकः ।। ३९.

A barren woman who observes this auspicious vow according to the rule will have a son who is supremely righteous.

अगम्यागमनं येन कृतं जानाति मानवः । स इमं विधिमासाद्य तस्मात् पापाद् विमुच्यते ।। ३९.

If a person knows he has committed the sin of approaching a forbidden woman, by following this rule, he is freed from that sin.

ब्रह्मक्रियाया लोपेन बहुवर्षकृतेन च । उपोष्येमां सकृद् भक्त्या वेदसंस्कारमाप्नुयात् ।। ३९.

Even if one has neglected Brahmanical rites for many years, by observing this vow once with devotion, he attains the sanctification of the Vedas.

किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन न तदस्ति महामुने । अप्राप्यं प्राप्यते नैव पापं वा यन्न नश्यति ।। ३९.

What is the use of saying more, O great sage? There is nothing unattainable by this, nor is there any sin that does not perish.

अनेन विधिना ब्रह्मन् स्वयमेव ह्युपोषिता । धरण्या मग्नया तात नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। ३९.

O Brahman, even the earth herself, when submerged, was restored by observing this rule; there is no need for further deliberation here, dear one.

अदीक्षिताय नो देयं विधानं नास्तिकाय च । देवब्रह्मद्विषे वाऽपि न श्राव्यं तु कदाचन । गुरुभक्ताय दातव्यं सद्यः पापप्रणाशनम् ।। ३९.

This rule should not be given to one who is uninitiated or to an atheist, nor ever told to one who hates the gods or Brahmins; it should be given to one devoted to his teacher, for it instantly destroys sin.

इह जन्मनि सौभाग्यं धनं धान्यं वरस्त्रियः । भवन्ति विविधा यस्तु उपोष्य विधिना ततः ।। ३९.

In this very life, good fortune, wealth, grain, and excellent wives of various kinds come to the one who observes this rule.

य इमं श्रावयेद् भक्त्या द्वादशीकल्पमुत्तमम् । श्रृणोति वा स पापैस्तु सर्वैरेव प्रमुच्यते ।। ३९.

Whoever devoutly recites or hears this excellent rule of Dvādaśī is freed from all sins.

दुर्वासा उवाच । तथैव पौषमासे तु अमृतं मथितं सुरैः । तत्र कूर्मो भवेद् देवः स्वयमेव जनार्दनः ।। ४०.

Durvāsā said: In the same way, in the month of Pauṣa, the nectar was churned by the gods; there, the Lord himself, Janārdana, became the tortoise.

तस्येयं तिथिरुद्दिष्टा हरेर्वै कूर्मरूपिणः । पुष्यमासस्य या शुद्धा द्वादशी शुक्लपक्षतः ।। ४०.

This day is prescribed as sacred to Hari in the form of the Tortoise, namely, the pure Dvādaśī of the bright fortnight in the month of Puṣya.

तस्यां प्रागेव संकल्प्य प्राग्वत् स्नान्नादिकाः क्रियाः । निर्वर्त्याराधयेद् रात्र्यामेकादश्यां जनार्दनम् । पृथङ्मन्त्रैर्मुनिश्रेष्ठ देवदेवं जनार्दनम् ।। ४०.

On that day, having resolved beforehand, and performing the acts of bathing and so on as before, one should worship Janārdana throughout the night of Ekādaśī, O best of sages, with separate mantras for the Lord of gods, Janārdana.

ॐकूर्माय पादौ प्रथमं प्रपूज्य नारायणेति हरेः कटिं च । संकर्षणायेत्युदरं विशोके- त्युरोभवायेति तथैव कण्ठम् । सुबाहवेत्येव भुजौ शिरश्च नमो विशालाय रथाङ्गसारम् ।। ४०.

First, worship the feet with the mantra 'Om, to the Tortoise'; then the waist of Hari with 'Nārāyaṇa'; the abdomen with 'Saṅkarṣaṇa'; the throat with 'Viśoka'; the arms with 'Subāhu'; the head with 'Salutations to the mighty one, the bearer of the discus.'

स्वनाममन्त्रेण सुगन्धपुष्पै- र्नानानिवेद्यैर्विविधैः फलैश्च । अभ्यर्च्य देवं कलशं तदग्रे संस्थाप्य माल्यैः सितकण्ठदाम ।। ४०.

Worship the Lord with fragrant flowers bearing your own name, with various offerings and different fruits; then, in front of the pot, adorn it with garlands and a white-necked necklace.

तं रत्नगर्भं तु पुरेव कृत्वा स्वशक्तितो हेममयं तु देवम् । समन्दरं कूर्मरूपेण कृत्वा संस्थाप्य ताम्रे घृतपूर्णपात्रे । पूर्णघटस्योपरि संनिवेश्य श्वो ब्राह्मणायैवमेवं तु दद्यात् ।। ४०.

As before, make the Lord of precious essence according to your ability, or of gold; fashion the turtle form with the ocean, and place it in a copper vessel filled with ghee; set it above the full pot, and the next day, give it in this manner to a Brahmin.

श्वो ब्राह्मणान् भोज्य सदक्षिणांश्च यथाशक्त्या प्रीणयेद् देवदेवम् । नारायणं कूर्मरूपेण पश्चाद् तथा स्वयं भुञ्जीत सभृत्यवर्गः ।। ४०.

The next day, satisfy Brahmins with food and proper gifts according to your means, and gladden the Lord of gods; then, having worshipped Nārāyaṇa in the form of the turtle, you yourself may eat together with your attendants.

एवं कृते विप्र समस्तपापं विनश्यते नात्र कुर्याद् विचारम् । संसारचक्रं तु विहाय शुद्धं प्राप्नोति लोकं च हरेः पुराणम् । प्रयान्ति पापानि विनाशमाशु श्रीमांस्तथा जायते सत्यधर्मः ।। ४०.

O Brahmin, when this is done, all sins are destroyed—of this there is no doubt; abandoning the cycle of worldly existence, one attains the pure and ancient realm of Hari; sins quickly perish, and one becomes prosperous and established in true righteousness.

अनेकजन्मान्तरसंचितानि नश्यन्ति पापानि नरस्य भक्त्या । प्रागुक्तरूपं तु फलं भवेत नारायणस्तुष्टिमायाति सद्यः ।। ४०.

The sins accumulated over countless past lives are destroyed by a man's devotion; the previously described result is obtained, and Nārāyaṇa is immediately pleased.

दुर्वासा उवाच । एवं माघे सिते पक्षे द्वादशीं धरणीभृतः । वराहस्य श्रृणुष्वाद्यां मुने परमधार्मिक ।। ४१.

Durvāsā said: In the bright fortnight of Māgha, on the twelfth day, O Upholder of the Earth, listen now, O most righteous sage, to the original vow of Varāha.

प्रागुक्तेन विधानेन संकल्पस्नानमेव च । कृत्वा देवं समभ्यर्च्य एकादश्यां विचक्षणः ।। ४१.

With the procedure previously described, and after making the resolve and bathing, the wise one should worship the Lord on the eleventh day.

धूपनैवेद्यगन्धैश्च अर्चयित्वाऽच्युतं नरः । पश्चात् तस्याग्रतः कुम्भं जलपूर्णं तु विन्यसेत् ।। ४१.

Having worshipped Acyuta with incense, offerings, and fragrances, a man should then place a water-filled pot before him.