Varaha Purana

सूत उवाच वराहं पुनरप्याह नत्वा सा धरणी तदा

Sūta said: Varāha again spoke, having bowed to the earth at that time,

धरोवाच दीक्षितैः किं नु कर्त्तव्यं तव कर्मपरायणैः ।। 128.

The Earth said: What should be done by your devoted followers who have been initiated?

ततो महीवचः श्रुत्वा मेघदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनः

Then, having heard the words of the Earth, there was a sound like thunder from the clouds and drums.

श्रीवराह उवाच सर्वत्र चिन्तनीयोऽहं गुह्यमेव गणान्तिकम्

Śrī Varāha said: I am to be contemplated everywhere, but secretly, in the presence of the assembly.

नारायणवचः श्रुत्वा धरणी शंसितव्रता

Having heard the words of Nārāyaṇa, the Earth, steadfast in her vows,

शुचिर्भागवतश्रेष्ठा तव कर्मणि नित्यशः

Pure and foremost among devotees, she is ever engaged in your actions.

कराभ्यामञ्जलिं कृत्वा नारायणमथाब्रवीत्

Folding her hands in reverence, she then spoke to Nārāyaṇa.

धरण्युवाच तव चिन्तापरेणात्र किं कर्त्तव्यं च माधव

The Earth said: Absorbed in thought of you, O Mādhava, what should be done here?

केन चिन्तयितव्यस्त्वमचिन्त्यो मानुषैः परः

By whom should you be contemplated, you who are beyond thought, transcending mortals?

ततो भूम्या वचः श्रुत्वा आदिरव्यक्तसम्भवः

Then, having heard the words of the Earth, the Primal One, born of the Unmanifest,

श्रीवराह उवाच येन चिन्तयसे चिन्तां मम कर्मपरायणा

Śrī Varāha said: By whatever means you contemplate me, devoted to my actions,

एषा गणान्तिका नाम दीक्षाऽङ्गबीजनिःसृता 128.

This is called the 'Secret Assembly' initiation, arising from the seed of the rite.

दीक्षितेन तु शुद्धेन मम निश्चितकर्मणा

By one who is pure and initiated, firmly resolved in my actions,

यस्तु भागवतो भूत्वा तद्गृह्णाति गणान्तिकाम्

Who, having become a devotee, receives this Secret Assembly initiation,

तस्य धर्मो न विद्येत दीक्षा तस्य महाफला

For him, there is no other duty; this initiation yields great fruit.

आसुरी नाम सा दीक्षा यया धर्मः प्रवर्त्तते

That initiation is called Āsurī, by which righteousness is established.

गुह्यां गणान्तिकां यो मां चिन्तयेत्स बुधोत्तमः

He who contemplates me in the secret assembly is the best among the wise.

ग्रहणस्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा शिष्याय दीयते

I will explain the method of receiving it, as it is given to a disciple.

कौमुदस्य तु मासस्य मार्गशीर्षस्य वाप्यथ ।। । वैशाखस्यापि मासस्य शुक्लपक्षे तु द्वादशी

In the month of Kaumuda, or in Mārgaśīrṣa, or even in the month of Vaiśākha, on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight,

कुर्यान्निरामिषं तत्र दिनानि त्रीणि निश्चितः

He should observe a strict vegetarian diet there for three days.

ममाग्रतो वरारोहे प्रज्वाल्य च हुताशनम्

In my presence, on the altar, he should kindle the sacred fire.

ततः शिष्यो गुरुश्चैव दीक्षितः शुचिरुत्तमः 128.

Then, both the disciple and the guru, initiated and supremely pure, [should proceed].

मन्त्रः – या धारिता पूर्वपितामहेन ब्रह्मण्यदेवेन भवोद्भवेन

Mantra: That which was upheld by the ancient forefathers, by the god devoted to Brahman, by Bhavodbhava.

तत एतेन मन्त्रेण गुरुर्गृह्य गणान्तिकम्

Then, with this mantra, the guru should take [the disciple] to the assembly of attendants.

मन्त्रः – नारायणस्य दक्षिणगात्रजातां स्वशिष्य गृह्णीष्व समयेन देवीम्

Mantra: O disciple, with the proper rite, receive the goddess born from the southern branch of Narayana.

धरण्युवाच प्रसाधनविधिं चैव केन मन्त्रेण कल्पयेत्

The Earth spoke: By which mantra should the procedure for adornment be established?

अकर्मण्येन मुच्येत तव कर्मपरायणः

One devoted to action is freed by the non-action of yours.

धर्मसंयुक्तवाक्येन प्रत्युवाच वसुन्धराम्

He replied to Vasundhara with words joined to righteousness.

श्रीवराह उवाच स्नानस्यैवोपचाराणि यानि कुर्वन्ति कर्म्मिणः

Sri Varaha said: The procedures for bathing that practitioners perform—