Varaha Purana

क्वापि संपत्स्यते भावो द्रष्टव्यश्चापि ते पिता । एवं नीतेऽपि किं कार्यमिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत् ।। ५३.

At some point, this relationship will arise; you should also see your father. Even after acting thus, he became absorbed in thought, wondering what should be done.

तस्य चिन्तयतः शस्त्रं पितृकं पुरतो बभौ । तेन शस्त्रेण तं रोषान्ममन्थ स्वरमन्तिके ।। ५३.

As he was pondering, a paternal weapon appeared before him; with that weapon, out of anger, he churned the essence nearby.

तस्मिन् मथितमात्रे तु शिरस्तस्यापि दुर्ग्रहम् । नालिकेरफलाकारं चतुर्वक्त्रोऽन्वपश्यत ।। ५३.

As soon as it was churned, he saw a head, difficult to grasp, with four faces, shaped like a coconut.

तच्चावृतं प्रधानेन दशधा संवृतो बभौ । चतुष्पादेन शस्त्रेण चिच्छेद तिलकाण्डवत् ।। ५३.

That was enveloped by the chief principle, covered tenfold; with a four-edged weapon, he cut it like a sesame pod.

प्रकामं तिलसंच्छिन्ने तदमूलौ न मे बभौ । अहं त्वहं वदन् भूतं तमप्येवमथाच्छिनत् ।। ५३.

When the sesame-like parts were thoroughly cut, nothing remained at the root; yet, saying 'I am I,' a being appeared, and he cut that as well.

तस्मिन् छिन्ने तदस्यांसे ह्रस्वमन्यमवेक्षत । अहं भूतादि वः पञ्च वदन्तं भूतिमन्तिकात् ।। ५३.

When that was cut, he saw on its part another small being, saying from nearby, 'I am the fivefold origin of beings.'

तमप्येवमथो छित्त्वा पञ्चाशून्यममीक्षत । कृत्वावकाशं ते सर्वे जल्पन्त इदमन्तिकात् ।। ५३.

Cutting that as well, he saw emptiness in the five elements; having made space, all of them began speaking thus from nearby.

तमप्यसङ्गशस्त्रेण चिच्छेद तिलकाण्डवत् । तस्मिंच्छिन्ने दशांशेन ह्रस्वमन्यमपश्यत ।। ५३.

He cut that too with a detached weapon, like a sesame pod; when that was cut, he saw another, smaller by a tenth part.

पुरुषं रूपशस्त्रेण तं छित्त्वाऽन्यमपश्यत । तद्वद् ह्रस्वं सितं सौम्यं तमप्येवं तदाऽकरोत् ।। ५३.

Cutting that person with a form-cutting weapon, he saw another; in the same way, he made that one, small, white, and gentle.

एवं कृते शरीरं तु ददर्श स पुनः प्रभुः । स्वकीयमेवाकस्यान्तः पितरं नृपसत्तम ।। ५३.

Having done so, the lord again saw the body—his own—within the sky, O best of kings, as his father.

त्रसरेणुसमं मूर्त्या अव्यक्तं सर्वजन्तुषु । समं दृष्ट्वा परं हर्षं उभे विसस्वरार्त्तवित् ।। ५३.

With a form as small as a speck of dust, imperceptible among all beings, seeing it as equal, both were filled with supreme joy, their suffering vanished.

एवंविधोऽसौ पुरुषः स्वरनामा महातपाः । मूर्त्तिस्तस्य प्रवृत्ताख्यं निवृत्ताख्यं शिरो महत् ।। ५३.

Such is that person, named Svara, of great austerity; his form is called 'manifest,' and his great head is called 'unmanifest.'

एतस्मादेव तस्याशु कथया राजसत्तम । संभूतिरभवद् राजन् विवृत्तेस्त्वेष एव तु ।। ५३.

From this very account, O best of kings, manifestation arose; but from dissolution, it is only this.

एषेतिहासः प्रथमः सर्वस्य जगतो भृशम् । य इमं वेत्ति तत्त्वेन साक्षात् कर्मपरो भवेत् ।। ५३.

This is the very first legend of the entire world; whoever truly knows this becomes devoted to action.

भद्राश्व उवाच । विज्ञानोत्पत्तिकामस्य क आराध्यो भवेद् द्विज । कथं चाराध्यतेऽसौ हि एतदाख्याहि मे द्विज ।। ५४.

Bhadrāśva said: O twice-born, for one desiring the rise of knowledge, who should be worshipped? And how is he to be worshipped? Please tell me this, O twice-born.

अगस्त्य उवाच । विष्णुरेव सदाराध्यः सर्वदेवैरपि प्रभुः । तस्योपायं प्रवक्ष्यामि येनासौ वरदो भवेत् ।। ५४.

Agastya said: Only Viṣṇu, the lord, is always to be worshipped, even by all the gods; I shall tell you the means by which he becomes the bestower of boons.

रहस्यं सर्वदेवानां मुनीनां मनुजांस्तथा । नारायणः परो देवस्तं प्रणम्य न सीदति ।। ५४.

The supreme secret of all the gods, sages, and men is Nārāyaṇa, the highest god; one who bows to him does not fall.

श्रूयते च पुरा राजन् नारदेन महात्मना । कथितं तुष्टिदं विष्णोर्व्र्तमप्सरसां तथा ।। ५४.

It is heard, O King, that in ancient times the great-souled Narada narrated a vow pleasing to Vishnu, as well as to the Apsaras.

नारदस्तु पुरा कल्पे गतवान् मानसं सरः । स्नानार्थं तत्र चजापश्यत् सर्वमप्सरसां गणम् ।। ५४.

Once, in a previous cycle, Narada went to the lake Manasa for the purpose of bathing, and there he saw the entire host of Apsaras.

तास्तं दृष्ट्वा विलासिन्यो जटामुकुटधारिणम् । अस्थिचर्मावशेषं तु छत्रदण्डकपालिनम् ।। ५४.

Those playful women, seeing him—wearing a matted hair crown, with only bones and skin remaining, holding a staff, umbrella, and skull—

देवासुरमनुष्याणां दिदृक्षुं कलहप्रियम् । ब्रह्मपुत्रं तपोयुक्तं पप्रच्छुस्ता वराङ्गनाः ।। ५४.

Desiring to see the son of Brahma, devoted to austerity, who delights in quarrels and is sought by gods, demons, and humans, those excellent women questioned him.

अप्सरस ऊचुः । भगवन् ब्रह्मतनय भर्तृकामा वयं द्विज । नारायणश्च भर्त्ता नो यथा स्यात् तत् प्रचक्ष्व नः ।। ५४.

The Apsaras said: 'O revered one, son of Brahma, we are desirous of husbands, O twice-born. Tell us how Narayana may become our husband.'

नारद उवाच । प्रणामपूर्वकः प्रश्नः सर्वत्र विहितः शुभः । स च मे न कृतो गर्वाद् युष्माभिर्यौवनस्मयात् ।। ५४.

Narada said: 'A question preceded by reverent greeting is always auspicious everywhere; but you did not do so, out of pride and youthful arrogance.'

तथापि देवदेवस्य विष्णोर्यन्नामकीर्तितम् । भवतीभिस्तथा भर्त्ता भवत्विति हरिः कृतः । तन्नामोच्चारणादेव कृतं सर्वं न संशयः ।। ५४.

Nevertheless, whatever name of the god of gods, Vishnu, is spoken by you, so let him be your husband; Hari is thus made so. By uttering his name alone, all is accomplished, without doubt.

इदानीं कथयाम्याशु व्रतं येन हरिः स्वयम् । वरदत्वमवाप्नोति भर्तृत्वं च नियच्छति ।। ५४.

Now I shall quickly tell you the vow by which Hari himself grants boons and bestows the status of husband.

नारद उवाच । वसन्ते शुक्लपक्षस्य द्वादशी या भवेच्छुभा । तस्यामुपोष्य विधिवन् निशायां हरिमर्च्चयेत् ।। ५४.

Narada said: 'In spring, on the auspicious twelfth day of the bright fortnight, after fasting according to the prescribed manner, one should worship Hari at night.'

पर्यङ्कास्तरणं कृत्वा नानाचित्रसमन्वितम् । तत्र लक्ष्म्या युतं रौप्यं हरिं कृत्वा निवेशयेत् ।। ५४.

Having prepared a bed adorned with various designs, one should place upon it a silver image of Hari together with Lakshmi.

तस्योपरि ततः पुष्पैर्मण्डपं कारयेद् बुधः । नृत्यवादित्रगेयैश्च जागरं तत्र कारयेत् ।। ५४.

Then, above it, one should construct a pavilion with flowers, and arrange a vigil there with dance and musical instruments.

मनोभवायेति शिर अनङ्गायेति वै कटिम् । कामाय बाहुमूले तु सुशास्त्रायेति चोदरम् ।। ५४.

With 'for the mind-born' on the head, 'for Ananga' on the waist, 'for Kama' at the base of the arms, and 'for the good scriptures' on the abdomen—