Varaha Purana

स तेन चोदितो ह्येवं निषादो नावगच्छति 125.

Thus urged by him, the Niṣāda did not understand.

किं त्वया दुष्कृतं कर्म कृतं पूर्वं पुरातनम्

What evil deed was done by you in the ancient past?

केन दोषेण प्राप्तस्त्वं स्त्रीत्वं भूत्वा पुमान् पुनः

By what fault have you come to be a woman, having formerly been a man?

एवं तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स ऋषिः संशितव्रतः

Hearing these words, that sage of firm vows

निषाद शृणु तत्त्वेन मत्कथां च प्रजल्पतः

said: 'Nishada, listen attentively as I recount my story.'

एकभक्तं मयाचारे अभक्ष्यं चैव वर्जितम् कर्मभिर्बहुभिश्चैव मया दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणा

I practiced taking only one meal a day, avoided forbidden foods, and performed many acts, desiring a vision.

अथ दीर्घेण कालेन मया दृष्टो जनार्द्दनः

Then, after a long time, I beheld Janardana.

मया नाभीप्सितस्तस्माद्दीयमानो वरस्ततः

Since I did not seek any boon, the boon offered was not desired by me.

ततो मां भाषते विष्णुर्मायां दृष्ट्वा ह्यलं द्विज

Then Vishnu spoke to me, saying, 'Having seen the illusion, enough, O twice-born.'

ततोऽहं तेन चाप्युक्तस्तर्हि द्रक्षत्यलं भवान्

Then he also said to me, 'Now you will see enough, O noble one.'

अहं मायाप्रलोभेन गङ्गातीरमुपागतः ततः स्नानविधानेन निमग्नस्तज्जलेऽमले ।। 125.

Through the delusion of illusion, I came to the bank of the Ganga; then, following the rite of bathing, I immersed myself in that pure water.

न तत्र किंचिज्जानामि किमिदं किं प्रवर्त्तते

There, I knew nothing—what is this, what is happening?

केनचित्कारणेनात्र प्रविष्टो जाह्नवीजले

For some reason, I entered the waters of Jahnavi.

निषाद पश्य कुण्डीं च मात्रां वस्त्रं यथा पुरा दण्डवस्त्रादि यत्किंचिन्न जीर्णं गङ्गया हृतम्

Nishada, see the water pot, the mat, the cloth as before; the staff and cloth—whatever was not worn out—were carried away by the Ganga.

एवं तेन ततश्चोक्ता निषादोऽदृश्यतां गतः

Thus, having spoken, the Nishada disappeared from sight.

स ततो ब्राह्मणो देवि तपस्तपति निश्चितम्

Then, O Devi, that Brahmin certainly undertook austerities.

तस्य प्रतिष्ठमानस्य अपराह्णं तु जायते

As he was engaged in his practice, the afternoon came.

कर्मण्यानि च पुष्पाणि आहृत्य श्रद्धयान्वितः

Having gathered flowers for the rite, he was filled with faith.

वृतस्तु ब्राह्मणैर्मुख्यैर्गङ्गास्नानेषु वै द्विजः

Surrounded by eminent Brahmins, the twice-born performed ablutions in the Ganga.

पूर्वाह्णे स्थापयित्वात्र मात्रां कुण्डीं त्रिदण्डकम् विस्मृतं किं त्वया स्थानं कथं शीघ्रं न चागतः

In the forenoon, having placed there the mat, water pot, and staff—what have you forgotten? Why have you not come quickly to this place?

ततो विप्रवचः श्रुत्वा तूष्णीमासीन्मुनिस्तदा 125.

Hearing the Brahmin's words, the sage then sat in silence.

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि स च ब्राह्मणपुंगवः

Meanwhile, O goddess, that eminent Brahmin also—

कथमेतावतङ्कालं मामूचुर्ब्राह्मणाश्च किम् कथं कालेऽनुसम्प्राप्तः किमेतदिति भाषते

How has so much time passed? What did the Brahmins say to me? How did this moment arrive? What is this, he speaks thus.

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि ब्राह्मणाय ततो मया

Meanwhile, O goddess, to that Brahmin, then by me—

किमिदं भ्रांतरूपोऽसि किं वा त्वं दृष्टवानसि

What is this, you appear bewildered? Or what have you seen?

एवमुक्तः स तु मया भूमौ कृत्वा शिरः स्वकम्

Thus addressed by me, he placed his own head upon the ground.

अहो देव द्विजा एते मां वदन्ति जगद्गुरो आगतोऽस्यपराह्ने किं स्थलं विस्मृतवानसि

Ah, O god, O twice-born, these Brahmins speak to me, O teacher of the world: you have arrived in the afternoon, what place have you forgotten?

अहं व्याधस्य वै भूत्वा भार्या च व्याधयोनिजा

I became a hunter, and my wife was born in the hunter's lineage.

तस्माच्चैव त्रयः पुत्रास्तिस्रश्चापि च कन्यकाः

From her, three sons were born, and also three daughters.