Varaha Purana

वणिजश्चैव पौराश्च वैश्याश्चापि वराङ्गनाः 122.

Merchants, townspeople, Vaiśyas, and noble women—

अथ दीर्घेण कालेन प्राप्तः कोकामुखं त्विदम् ।। तत्र गत्वा वरारोहा भर्त्तारमिदमब्रवीत्

Then, after a long time, he arrived at this Kokāmukha; having gone there, the noble lady spoke to her husband.

पूर्वपृष्टं मया यत्ते वक्ष्यामीति च मां प्रति

What you previously asked me, I will now tell you.

निशम्येति प्रियाप्रोक्तं राजपुत्रो यशस्विनि

Hearing these words spoken by his beloved, the illustrious prince—

रजनी सम्प्रवृत्तेयं सुखं स्वापो विधीयताम्

Night has now fallen; let us rest comfortably and sleep.

प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां स्नातौ क्षौमविभूषितौ

When morning had dawned, after bathing and adorning ourselves with fine linen—

व्याधेन निगृहीतोऽस्मि बडिशेन जलेचरः

I was seized by a hunter, like a fish caught by a hook.

तेन तस्य प्रहारेण जाता शिरसि वेदना 122.

From that blow of his, pain arose in my head.

एतत्ते कथितं भद्रे पूर्वपृष्टं च यत्त्वया

O gentle one, this which you asked before has now been told to you.

ततः साप्यनवद्याङ्गी रक्तपद्मशुभानना

Then she too, flawless in form, her face lovely as a red lotus—

एतदर्थं मया भद्र गुह्यं नोक्तं तथा स्वकम्

For this reason, dear one, I did not reveal my secret before.

क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्ता चिल्ली गगनगामिनी

Weary from hunger and thirst, the bird Cilli, who moves through the sky—

अथ कश्चिन्मृगव्याधो हत्वा वनचरान्बहून्

Then a certain hunter of wild beasts, having slain many forest-dwellers—

प्रवृत्तोऽग्निमुपादाय तावदुड्डीय सत्वरम्

He began to kindle a fire, and at that moment, the bird swiftly flew up.

न च सक्तास्मि संहर्त्तुं मांसभारप्रपीडिता

But I was unable to escape, weighed down by the burden of flesh.

भक्षयित्वा ततो मांसं व्याधः संहृष्टमानसः

After eating the meat, the hunter became joyful in mind.

तावद्ददर्श मां तत्र खादन्तीं मांसपिण्डिकाम् 122.

At that moment, he saw me there, eating a lump of flesh.

विद्धा बाणेन मां तत्र भक्षयन्तमिपातयत्

He struck me there with an arrow as I was eating, and I fell down.

पतितास्म्यवशा भद्र कालतन्त्रे दुरासदे

Helpless, I fell, O gentle one, into the inescapable web of fate.

जातास्मि त्वत्प्रिया चापि स्मरन्ती पूर्वजन्म तत्

I was born as your beloved, remembering that former birth.

गलितान्यल्पशेषाणि प्राणनाथ समीपतः

My remaining life is now slipping away, as I lie near you, my beloved.

आनीतोऽसि मया भद्र स्थानं कोकामुखं प्रति

O blessed one, you have been brought by me to the place called Kokāmukha.

उत्तमे तु कुले जाता मानुषी जातिमाश्रिताः

Born in an excellent family, you have assumed human birth.

तं तमेव करिष्यामि विष्णुलोके सुखावहम्

I shall make that very place bring happiness in the world of Vishnu.

विस्मयं परमं गत्वा साधु साध्वित्यपूजयत्

Having attained supreme wonder, she worshipped, saying 'Excellent, excellent!'

तच्छ्रुत्वा कानिचिद्देवी स्वयं चक्रे पतिव्रता

Hearing that, some goddesses themselves became devoted to their husbands.

तत्तत्सर्वेऽपि कुर्वंति विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा 122.

All of them performed those acts according to the prescribed rules.

ददतुः परमप्रीतौ पात्रेभ्यश्च यथार्हतः

They gave, with utmost delight, to worthy recipients as was appropriate.

ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुः स्वानि विष्णुभक्त्या यतव्रताः

The ascetic devotees, with devotion to Vishnu, gave their possessions to the Brahmins.