Varaha Purana

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—

मन्मथायेति पादौ तु हरयेति च सर्वतः । पुष्पैः संपूज्य देवेशं मल्लिकाजातिभिस्तथा ।। ५४.

'For Manmatha' on the feet, 'for Hari' everywhere; worship the lord of gods with flowers, especially those of the jasmine kind.

पश्चाच्चतुर आदाय इक्षुदण्डान् सुशोभनान् । चतुर्दिक्षु न्यसेत् तस्य देवस्य प्रणतो नृप ।। ५४.

Afterwards, taking four beautiful sugarcane stalks, one should place them in the four directions around the deity, bowing, O King.

एवं कृत्वा प्रभाते तु प्रदद्याद् ब्राह्मणाय वै । वेदवेदाङ्गयुक्ताय संपूर्णाङ्गाय धीमते ।। ५४.

Having done so, in the morning one should give them to a Brahmin who is learned in the Vedas and Vedangas, whose limbs are complete and who is wise.

ब्राह्मणांश्च तथा पूज्य व्रतमेतत् समापयेत् । एवं कृते तथा विष्णुर्भर्त्ता वो भविता ध्रुवम् ।। ५४.

One should also honor the Brahmins and complete this vow; by doing so, Vishnu will certainly become your husband.

अकृत्वा मत्प्रणामं तु पृष्टो गर्वेण शोभनाः । अवमानस्य तस्यायं विपाको वो भविष्यति ।। ५४.

Without offering me a respectful greeting, you asked out of pride, O beautiful ones; as a result of this disrespect, you will reap its consequence.

एतस्मिन्नेव सरसि अष्टावक्रो महामुनिः । तस्योपहासं कृत्वा तु शापं लप्स्यथ शोभनाः ।। ५४.

In this very lake, the great sage Ashtavakra, after being mocked by you, O beautiful ones, will curse you.

व्रतेनानेन देवेशं पतिं लब्ध्वाऽभिमानतः । अवमानेऽपहरणं गोपालैर्वो भविष्यति । पुरा हर्त्ता च कन्यानां देवो भर्त्ता भविष्यति ।। ५४.

By this vow, having obtained the Lord of the gods as husband, out of pride, there will be disrespect and abduction by cowherds. Previously, the god who was the thief of maidens will become their husband.

अगस्त्य उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा स देवर्षिः प्रययौ नारदः क्षणात् । ता अप्येतद् व्रतं चक्रुस्तुष्टश्चासां स्वयं हरिः ।। ५४.

Agastya said: Having spoken thus, the divine sage Narada departed at once. Those women also performed this vow, and Hari himself was pleased with them.

अगस्त्य उवाच । श्रृणु राजन् महाभाग व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । येन संप्राप्यते विष्णुः शुभेनैव न संशयः ।। ५५.

Agastya said: Listen, O fortunate king, to the supreme vow among vows, by which Vishnu is attained through auspiciousness—there is no doubt.

मार्गशीर्षेऽथ मासे तु प्रथमाह्नात् समारभेत् । एकभक्तं सिते पक्षे यावत् स्याद् दशमी तिथिः ।। ५५.

Then, in the month of Margashirsha, one should begin from the first day, taking one meal during the bright fortnight until the tenth lunar day arrives.