Varaha Purana

नृत्यतः कि भवेत्पुण्यं जाग्रतो वा फलं नु किम्

What merit arises from dancing, or what is the fruit of remaining awake?

संमार्जने लेपने वा गन्धपुष्पादिदानतः

From sweeping, smearing, or offering fragrance and flowers—

अन्येन कर्मणा चैव जपयज्ञादिनाऽथवा

Or by any other act, or by recitation, sacrifice, and the like—

उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं धर्मकामां वसुन्धराम् शृणु सुन्दरि तत्त्वेन यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि ।। 138.

He spoke sweet words to Earth, who desired righteousness: 'Listen, beautiful one, to the truth of what you ask me.'

सर्वं ते कथयिष्यामि पुण्यकर्म सुखावहम्

I shall tell you everything, all meritorious deeds that bring happiness.

बहून् भुक्त्वा हि वसुधे अजीर्णभृशपीडितः

After consuming many things, he was greatly afflicted by indigestion, O Earth.

सम्प्राप्तास्तत्र वै बालाः क्रीडन्तस्तं मृतं खगम्

At that place, some children arrived, and while playing, they found that dead bird.

ममायं वै ममायं वै जिघृक्षन्तः परस्परम

Saying, 'This is mine! This is mine!' they each tried to seize it from one another.

तत एको गृहीत्वैनं गङ्गाम्भसि समाक्षिपत्

Then one of them took it and threw it into the waters of the Ganga.

एवं स खञ्जरीटो हि गङ्गातोयात्ततस्तदा

Thus, that wagtail bird was then carried away by the waters of the Ganga.

वैश्यस्य तु गृहे जातो ह्यनेकक्रतुयाजिनः

He was born in the house of a merchant who had performed many sacrifices.

विबुद्धश्च पवित्रश्च मद्भक्तश्च वसुन्धरे

He became wise, pure, and devoted to me, O Earth.

कदाचिदुपविष्टौ तौ दृष्ट्वा बालो गुणान्वितः

Once, seeing his parents seated, that virtuous boy approached them.

प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ बद्धाञ्जलिरयाचत 138.

He bowed with his head to the ground, joined his palms, and made a request.

न चाहं वारणीयो वै पित्रा मात्रा कथंचन

I am not to be restrained in any way by my father or mother.

पुत्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा दम्पती तौ मुदान्वितौ

Hearing their son's words, the couple became filled with joy.

यद्यत्त्वं वक्ष्यसे वत्स यद्यत्ते हृदि वर्त्तते

Whatever you say, dear child, whatever is in your heart—

त्रिंशत्सहस्रं गावो हि सर्वाश्च शुभदोहनाः

There are thirty thousand cows, all yielding auspicious milk.

पुनरन्यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि आवयोः पुत्र कारणात्

I will tell you something else, for your sake, my son.

तत्कुरुष्व यथान्यायं मित्रेभ्यो दीयतां धनम्

Do as is proper: let wealth be given to friends.

कन्या वै रमणीयाश्च सजातीयाः कुलोद्भवाः

There are beautiful maidens of good family and of your own caste.

यदीच्छसि पुनश्चान्यद्यज्ञैर्यष्टुं सुपुत्रक

If you wish, dear son, to perform other sacrifices again—

अष्टौ सम्पूर्णधुर्याणां हलानां तावतां शतम्

There are eight hundred ploughs, each complete with a pair of oxen.

यावद्भोजनतृप्तान्वा द्विजानिच्छसि तर्पितुम् 138.

As long as you wish to satisfy the twice-born with food, having fulfilled their hunger,

पितृमातृ वचः श्रुत्वा स बालो धर्मसंयुतः

Hearing the words of his father and mother, that boy, endowed with righteousness,

गोप्रदाने न मे कार्यं मित्रं वापि न चिन्तितम्

I have no concern with giving cows, nor do I worry about friends,

नाहं वाणिज्यमिच्छामि कृषिगोरक्षमेव च

I do not desire trade, nor agriculture or tending cattle,

एकं मे परमं चिन्त्यं यन्ममेच्छा तपोधृतौ

There is only one supreme thought for me: my wish is to pursue austerity,

ततः पुत्रवचः श्रुत्वा मम कर्मपरायणौ

Then, having heard the words of their son, both devoted to their duties,