Varaha Purana

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.

ॐ वाराहायेति पादौ तु माधवायेति वै कटिम् । क्षेत्रज्ञायेति जठरं विश्वरूपेत्युरो हरेः ।। ४१.

Reciting 'Om Vārāhāya' at the feet, 'Mādhavāya' at the waist, 'Kṣetrajñāya' at the belly, and 'Viśvarūpa' at the chest of Hari—

सर्वज्ञायेति कण्ठं तु प्रजानां पतये शिरः । प्रद्युम्नायेति च भुजौ दिव्यास्त्राय सुदर्शनम् । अमृतोद्भवाय शङ्खं तु एष देवार्चने विधिः ।। ४१.

Reciting 'Sarvajñāya' at the throat, 'Lord of beings' at the head, 'Pradyumnāya' at the arms, 'Divine weapon' at the discus, and 'Amṛtodbhavāya' at the conch—this is the method of worshipping the deity.

एवमभ्यर्च्य मेधावी तस्मिन् कुम्भे तु विन्यसेत् । सौवर्णं रौप्यताम्रं वा पात्रं विभवशक्तितः ।। ४१.

Having worshipped in this way, the wise one should place in that pot a vessel of gold, silver, or copper, according to his means.

सर्वबीजैस्तु संपूर्णं स्थापयित्वा विचक्षणः । तत्र शक्त्या तु सौवर्णं वाराहं कारयेद् बुधः ।। ४१.

Filling it with all kinds of seeds, the discerning one should then, according to his ability, fashion a golden image of Varāha there.

दंष्ट्राग्रेणोद्धृतां पृथ्वीं सपर्वतवनद्रुमाम् । माधवं मधुहन्तारं वाराहं रूपमास्थितम् ।। ४१.

With the tip of his tusk he raised the Earth, along with her mountains, forests, and trees—Mādhava, the slayer of Madhu, assuming the form of Varāha.

सर्वबीजभृते पात्रे रत्नगर्भं घटोपरि । स्थापयेत् परमं देवं जातरूपमयं हरिम् ।। ४१.

Upon the vessel filled with all seeds, place the precious image above the pot; establish the supreme Lord Hari, made of gold.

सितवस्त्रयुगच्छन्नं ताम्रपात्रं तु वै मुने । स्थाप्यार्च्चयेद् गन्धपुष्पैर्नैवेद्यैर्विविधैः शुभैः ।। ४१.

Cover the copper vessel with a pair of white cloths, O sage, and worship it with fragrant flowers and various auspicious offerings.

पुष्पमण्डलिकां कृत्वा जागरं तत्र कारयेत् । प्रादुर्भावान् हरेस्तत्र वाचयेद् भावयेद् बुधः ।। ४१.

Having made a circle of flowers, keep vigil there; let the wise one recite and contemplate the manifestations of Hari.

एवं सन्नियमस्यान्तं प्रभाते उदिते रवौ । शुचिः स्नात्वा हरिं पूज्य ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् ।। ४१.

When this observance is completed, at dawn when the sun rises, having bathed in purity and worshipped Hari, offer him to a Brahmin.

वेदवेदाङ्गविदुषे साधुवृत्ताय धीमते । विष्णुभक्ताय विप्रर्षे विशेषेण प्रदापयेत् ।। ४१.

To a Brahmin learned in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, of good conduct and intelligence, devoted to Viṣṇu, especially should this be given, O best of sages.