Varaha Purana

हृदयेऽचिन्तयत्तत्र गर्भक्लेशेन पीडितः

There, afflicted by the pain of being in the womb, he reflected in his heart.

योऽहं निषादगर्भेऽस्मिन्वसामि नरकेषु च 125.

I, who now dwell in this Niṣāda womb and in these hellish states—

योऽहं निषादगर्भेऽस्मिन्पीडास्ति मलसंकुले

I, who am in this Niṣāda womb, suffer in this mass of filth.

पुरीषमूत्रसङ्कीर्णे मांसशोणितकर्द्दमे

Mixed with excrement and urine, in the mire of flesh and blood,

बहुरोगसमाकीर्णे बहुदुःखतमाकुले

Surrounded by many diseases, overwhelmed by manifold sufferings—

कुतो विष्णुः कुतो वाहं कुतो गङ्गाजलानि च

Where is Viṣṇu? Where am I? Where are the waters of the Ganga?

एवं चिन्तयमानस्तु शीघ्रं गर्भाद्विनिःसृतः

Thinking thus, he quickly emerged from the womb.

अजायत ततः कन्या निषादस्य गृहे तदा

Then, at that time, a daughter was born in the house of the Niṣāda.

न च संज्ञायते किंचिद्विष्णुमायाविमोहिता

But, bewildered by Viṣṇu's illusion, she was not aware of anything.

पुत्रान्दुहितरश्चैव जनयामास मायया

Through that illusion, she gave birth to sons and daughters.

जीवानि चैव सततं घातितानि ततस्ततः

And living beings were constantly killed here and there.

गम्यागम्यं न जानाति मायाजालेन मोहितः 125.

Deluded by the net of illusion, he did not know what should or should not be done.

घटं गृहीत्वा विड्लिप्तवस्त्रक्षालनकारणात्

Taking a pot, for the purpose of washing soiled clothes,

स्नातुं गङ्गाजले स्थित्वा विगाहयति जाह्नवीम्

She stood in the waters of the Ganga to bathe, and entered the Jahnavi.

जातस्तपोधनस्तत्र दण्डी कुण्डीधरः पुनः

There, a sage devoted to austerity was born again, holding a staff and water-pot.

वस्त्रादि दर्शितं चैव यत्र संस्थापितं पुरा

And the cloth and other items that had been shown and placed there before—

विप्रेण ज्ञातुकामेन विष्णुमायां यथा पुरा

By a brāhmaṇa, desiring to know Viṣṇu's illusion as before.

वासो गृह्णाति सव्रीडो योगं च परिचिन्तयन्

He puts on his garment with shame, reflecting upon the practice of yoga.

ततो विन्दति चात्मानं तपसा यत्तदा कृतम्

Then, through the austerity he had performed at that time, he comes to realize himself.

एवं निन्दति चात्मानं धिक्कुर्वन् साधुदूषितम्

In this way, he reproaches himself, condemning his own faults as one who has corrupted virtue.

निषादस्य कुले जातो भक्ष्याभक्ष्याश्च भक्षिताः

Born in the family of a Niṣāda, I have eaten both what is fit and unfit to eat.

पेयापेयं च मे पीतं विक्रीताश्चाप्यविक्रेयाः 125.

I have drunk what is fit and unfit to drink, and I have sold and bought what should not be traded.

वेश्मन्यभोज्यभोज्यं च भुक्तं चैव न संशयः

In the house, I have eaten both permitted and forbidden foods—of this there is no doubt.

ततः किंचापराधं वा केन वा तद्विचिन्तये

Then I consider what other offense, or by whom, might have been committed.

एतस्मिन्नंतरे भूमे निषादः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः

Meanwhile, on the earth, the Niṣāda, overcome by anger,

ततो मृगयते भार्यां भक्तियुक्तां शुभेक्षणाम्

Then searches for his wife, devoted and of auspicious appearance.

क्व गतासि प्रियेऽस्माकं त्यक्त्वा पुत्रान् गृहे च माम्

Where have you gone, dear one, leaving behind our children and me at home?

किं नु पश्यथ भार्यां मे गङ्गातीरमुपागता

Have you seen my wife, who has come to the bank of the Ganges?

तत्रैव च नराः सर्वे मायातीर्थमुपागताः

There, indeed, all the people have come to the sacred Māyā-tīrtha.