Varaha Purana

श्रुता मया भागवतास्तव कर्मपरायणाः

I have heard, O devotee, that your followers are devoted to your rites.

तव प्रापणकं कृत्यं केषु पात्रेषु कारयेत्

In which recipients should your prescribed act be performed?

ततो भूमेर्वचः श्रुत्वा लोकनाथोऽब्रवीदिदम्

Then, hearing the words of the Earth, the Lord of the world spoke as follows.

तानि ते कथयिष्यामि त्वया मे पूर्वपृच्छितम् 129.

I will tell you those things which you previously asked me about.

सर्वाणि तानि त्यक्त्वेह ताम्रं च मम रोचते

Having abandoned all those here, copper is pleasing to me.

उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं लोकनाथं जनार्द्दनम्

He spoke sweet words to Janardana, the Lord of the worlds.

ततो भूमेर्वचः श्रुत्वा अनादिरपराजितः

Then, hearing the words of the Earth, the beginningless and unconquered one—

शृणु तत्त्वेन मे भूमे कथ्यमानं मयाऽनघे

Hear from me, O sinless one, as I truly explain it to you, O Earth.

सप्तयुगसहस्राणि आदिकालेऽथ माधवि

In the beginning, O Mādhavī, there were seven thousand yugas.

पूर्वं कमलपत्राक्षि गुडाकेशो महासुरः

Previously, O lotus-eyed one, there was the great asura Guḍākeśa.

तत आराधितस्तेन वर्षाणां तु चतुर्दश

Then, he worshipped me for fourteen years.

अहं तु तपसा तुष्टस्तीव्रेण कृतनिश्चयात्

By his intense austerity and firm resolve, I was pleased.

दृष्ट्वाश्रमं महादेवि किञ्चिदेव सुभाषितम्

O great goddess, seeing his hermitage and hearing a few auspicious words—

चतुर्बाहुं च मां दृष्ट्वा मम कर्मपरायणः तं च दृष्ट्वा मया प्रोक्तं प्रसन्नेनान्तरात्मना ।। 129.

Seeing me with four arms, devoted to my duties, and seeing him, I spoke with a gladdened heart.

गुडाकेश महाभाग ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते

"O Guḍākeśa, highly fortunate one, tell me—what shall I do for you?"

यत्त्वया चिन्तितं सौम्य कर्मणा मनसा गिरा

Whatever you have contemplated, gentle one, in deed, thought, or word—

एवं मम वचः श्रुत्वा गुडकेशोऽब्रवीदिदम्

Thus, hearing my words, Guḍākeśa spoke this:

यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे देव समस्तेनान्तरात्मना

"If you are truly pleased with me, O Lord, with your entire inner being—"

चक्रेण वधमिच्छामि त्वया मुक्तेन केशव

"I desire to be slain by you, Keśava, with your discus."

चकेण पातितस्यैतद्वसामांसानि किं चन

"After being struck down by the discus, what of my flesh and marrow?"

तेन पात्रं ततः कृत्वा शुभधर्मविनिश्चितः

Then, making a vessel from that, he who was established in virtuous conduct—

निवेदिते परा प्रीतिर्भवत्वेतन्मनोगतम्

Let there be supreme satisfaction in my mind once the offering has been made.

यच्चिन्तितोऽसि देवेश उग्रे तपति तिष्ठता

O Lord of the gods, whatever you have contemplated, standing firm in severe austerity—

तावत्ताम्रस्थितो भूत्वा मम संस्थो भविष्यसि 129.

You shall remain established in my presence, having assumed a form stationed upon copper.

तत्ताम्रभाजने मह्यं दीयते यत्सुपुष्कलम्

Whatever is given to me in a copper vessel, filled to the brim—

मङ्गल्यं च पवित्रं च ताम्रं तेन प्रियं मम

That copper is auspicious and pure; for this reason, it is dear to me.

वैशाखस्य तु मासस्य शुक्लपक्षे तु द्वादशी

On the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Vaiśākha—

एष्यसे मम लोकाय एवमेतन्न संशयः

You shall come to my world; thus it is—there is no doubt about this.

चक्राद्वधमभीप्सन्वै सोऽपि मत्कर्मणि स्थितः

Desiring to be struck down by the discus, he too remained steadfast in my service.