Varaha Purana

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.

स्नातुं कदाचिद्गङ्गायां गतोऽहं तीरभूमिगः उन्मज्य स्वयं पुनश्चैव प्राप्तो रूपं मुनिस्तुतम्

Once, I went to bathe in the Ganges, as one dwelling by the riverbank; emerging, I myself again attained the form praised by sages.

किं मया विकृतं कर्म सेवमानेन माधव 125.

What wrongful act have I committed while serving Madhava?

भक्षितं किमकर्मण्यं सेवमानेन चाच्युत

What improper thing have I consumed while serving Achyuta?

एतदाचक्ष तत्त्वेन येनाहं नरकं गतः

Tell me this truthfully, by which I have gone to hell.

मायालुब्धेन हि मया पूर्वं विज्ञापितो ह्यसि

Indeed, I have previously informed you, being deceived by illusion.

ततस्तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कारुण्यपरिदेवितम्

Then, hearing his words, full of lamentation and compassion—

मा दुःखं कुरु विप्रेन्द्र आत्मदोषसमुद्भवम् येन दुःखमनुप्राप्तं तिर्यग्योनिं च वै गतः

Do not grieve, O foremost of Brahmins, for suffering arising from your own fault, by which you have attained sorrow and entered the animal womb.

उक्तमेव मया पूर्वं शृणु ब्राह्मणपुङ्गव

I have already spoken before; listen, O eminent Brahmin.

ददामि दिव्यभोगान्वै भौमान्वापि तवेप्सितम्

I grant you divine enjoyments, or earthly ones as you desire.

दृष्टा तु वैष्णवी माया या त्वया ब्राह्मणेप्सिता वर्षाणि चैव पंचाशान्निषादस्य गृहेऽपि न

The Vaiṣṇava illusion has been seen, which you, O Brahmin, desired; and for fifty years, not even in the house of the hunter.