Varaha Purana

एवं दिव्योपचारेण स्नात्वा राजा महामनाः । चिन्तयामास राजेन्द्रो विस्मयाविष्टचेतनः । किमिदं मुनिसामर्थ्यं तपसो वाऽथ वा मणेः ।। ११.

Thus, attended with divine service, the great-minded king bathed; then, filled with wonder, the lord of kings thought, 'Is this the power of the sage, or of austerity, or of the jewel?'

एवं स्नात्वा शुभे वस्त्रे परिधायोत्तमे तथा । विविधान्नं तु विधिना बुभुजे स नृपोत्तमः ।। ११.

Having bathed in this way, he put on auspicious and excellent garments, and then, following the prescribed manner, the noble king enjoyed various kinds of food.

/50 यथा च नृपतेः पूजा कृता तेन महर्षिणा । तद्वद् भृत्यजनस्यापि चकार मुनिसत्तमः ।। ११.

Just as the great sage performed worship for the king, so too did the eminent sage honor the king’s attendants.

यावत् स राजा बुभुजे सभृत्यबलवाहनः । तावदस्तगिरिं भानुर्जगामारुणसप्रभः ।। ११.

As long as the king, together with his attendants, army, and vehicles, was eating, the sun, glowing with a reddish hue, moved toward the mountain of setting.

ततस्तु रात्रिः समपद्यताऽधुना शरच्छशाङ्कोज्ज्वलऋक्षमण्डिता । करोति रागं स च रोहिणीधवः सुसङ्गतं सौम्यगुणेषु तापि च ।। ११.

Then night arrived, adorned with the bright autumn moon and shining stars; the moon, consort of Rohini, spread a gentle radiance, harmoniously blending with its mild qualities.

भृगूद्वहः कृष्णतरांशुभानुना सहोद्यतो दैत्यगुरुः सुराधिपः । अथान्तरात्पक्षगतो न राजते स्वभावयोगेन मतिस्तु देहिनाम् ।। ११.

The illustrious Bhrigu, along with the lord of the gods and the preceptor of the demons, rose with the dark-rayed sun; but when they entered the lunar fortnight, they did not shine, and by their inherent nature, the minds of embodied beings are influenced.

सुरक्ततां भूमिसुतश्च मुञ्चते राहुः सिती चन्द्रमसोंशुभिः सितैः । मुक्तः स्वभावो जगतः सुरासुरै- रनुस्वभावो बलवान् सुकृन्नृपः ।। ११.

The son of the earth relinquishes his deep redness, and Rahu, pale, is released by the moon’s bright rays; the natural disposition of the world, among gods and demons, is followed, and the virtuous king is powerful by his own nature.

सितेश्वराख्यापितरश्मिमण्डले सूर्यत्वसिद्धान्तकषेव निर्मले । करोति केतुर्न परे महत्तम- स्तदा कुशीलेषु गतिश्च निर्मला ।। ११.

In the circle of rays called 'lord of the white,' pure as the grinding stone of the sun’s doctrine, the comet does not cause great darkness; at that time, the movement among the skilled is clear.

बुधोच्चबुद्धिर्जगतो विभावयन् रराज राज्ञो तनयः स्वकर्मभिः । भृतेच्छकः कक्षविवाहितश्चिरं भवेदियं साधुषु सम्मितिर्ध्रुवम् ।। ११.

The son of the king, illuminating the world with his own deeds, shone with intelligence heightened by Mercury’s rise; the desire of the attendants, long fostered by proximity, surely finds agreement among the virtuous.

करोति केतुः कपिलं वियच्चिरं राज्ञः सुराणां पथि संस्थितं भृशम् । न दुर्जनः सज्जनसंसदि क्वचित् करोति शुद्धं निजकर्मकौशलम् ।। ११.

The comet makes the sky tawny for a long time, firmly established on the path of the king and the gods; an evil person never, in the company of the good, displays pure skill in his own actions.

शशाङ्करश्मिप्रविभासिता अपि प्रकाशमीयुर्निरताः पदे पदे । कुलंभवाः संभवधर्मपत्तयो महांशुयोगान्महतां समुन्नतिम् ।। ११.

Even those illuminated by the moon’s rays shine brightly at every step; those born of noble families, upholding the law of origin, attain great elevation through the union with powerful rays.

त्रिदोषसक्तान्निकृतोऽस्य सर्वशः सुतेन राज्ञो वरुणस्य सूर्यजः । विराजते कौशिकसन्निवेशिता न वेदकर्म क्वचिदन्यथा भवेत् ।। ११.

The son of the king, born of the sun and Varuna, completely overcomes those attached to the three faults; established in the Kauśika lineage, Vedic rituals are never performed otherwise.

द्वन्द्वः समेतान् मम यः शिशुः पुरा हरिर्य आराधितवान् नृपासनम् । लक्ष्म्यापि बुद्ध्या सुचिरं प्रकाशते ध्रुवेण विष्णुस्मरणेन दुर्लभम् ।। ११.

That child of mine, who once united the dualities and worshipped the royal throne, shines for a long time with fortune and intelligence, and by constant remembrance of Vishnu, the unattainable becomes firm.

इतीदृशी रात्रिरभूदृषेः शुभे वराश्रमे दुर्जयभूपतेः शुभा । सभृत्यसामन्तवराश्वदन्तिनः सुभक्तवस्त्राभरणादिपूजया ।। ११.

Thus, such a night passed for the sage in the auspicious hermitage, blessed for the unconquerable king, with attendants, vassals, noble horses and elephants, and worship with fine garments, ornaments, and other offerings.

इतीदृशायां वररत्नचित्रिताः सुपट्टसंवीतवरास्तृतास्तदा । गृहेषु पर्यङ्कवराः समाश्रिताः सुरूपयोषित्कृतभङ्गभासुराः ।। ११.

In such a night, adorned with excellent jewels, covered with splendid cloths, the best beds were arranged in the houses, and beautiful women, radiant with their gestures, enhanced the brilliance.

स तत्र राजा विससर्ज भूभृतः स्वयं सभृत्यानपि सर्वतो गृहान् । गतेषु सुष्वाप वरस्त्रिया वृतः सुरेशवत्स्वर्गगतः प्रतापवान् ।। ११.

There the king dismissed the landholders and all his attendants to their homes; when they had departed, he slept well, surrounded by noble women, like the lord of the gods in heaven, full of glory.

एवं सुमनसस्तस्य सभृत्यस्य महात्मनः । ऋषेस्तस्य प्रभावेन हृष्टास्तु सुषुपुस्तदा ।। ११.

Thus, the noble king and his attendants, with joyful minds, slept well at that time, due to the influence of the sage.

ततो रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां स राजा ताः स्त्रियः पुनः । अन्तर्द्धानं गतास्तत्र दृष्ट्वा तानि गृहाणि च ।। ११.

After the night had passed, the king saw that those women had vanished, and those houses as well.

अदृश्यानि महार्हाणि वरासनजलानि च । राजा स विस्मयाविष्टश्चिन्तयामास दुःखितः ।। ११.

The king saw that the splendid seats and water vessels had become invisible, and, struck with amazement, he began to ponder, distressed.

कथमेवं मणिर्मह्यं भवतीति पुनः पुनः । चिन्तयन्नधिगम्याथ स राजा दुर्जयस्तदा ।। ११.

Again and again, pondering, 'How might I obtain that gem?' the king Durjaya then devised a plan.

चिन्तामणिमिमं चास्य हरामीति विचिन्त्य सः । प्रयाणं नोदयामास स राजाश्रमबाह्यतः । आश्रमस्य बहिर्गत्वा नातिदूरे सवाहनः ।। ११.

Thinking, 'I will take this wish-fulfilling gem from him,' that king set out from outside the hermitage; having gone just a little distance with his retinue.

ततो विरोचनाख्यं वै प्रेषयामास मन्त्रिणम् । ऋषेर्गौरमुखस्यापि मणेर्याचनकर्मणि ।। ११.

Then he sent his minister named Virocana to request the gem from the sage Gauramukha.

ऋषिं तं च समागत्य मणिं याचितुमुद्यतः । रत्नानां भाजनं राजा मणिं तस्मै प्रदीयताम् ।। ११.

Approaching the sage, he prepared to ask for the gem: 'O king, vessel of jewels, let the gem be given to him.'

अमात्येनैवमुक्तस्तु क्रुद्धो गौरमुखोऽब्रवीत् । प्रतिगृह्णाति विप्रस्तु राजा चैव ददाति च । त्वं च राजा पुनर्भूत्वा याचसे दीनवत् कथम् ।। ११.

Thus addressed by the minister, Gauramukha, angered, said: 'The Brahmin receives, the king gives, and you, having become king again, how do you beg so pitiably?'

एवं ब्रूहि दुराचारं राजानं दुर्जयं स्वयम् । गच्छ द्रुतं दुराचार मा त्वां लोकोऽत्यगादिति ।। ११.

Say this to the wicked king Durjaya yourself: 'Go quickly, O evildoer, lest the world abandon you.'

(एवमुक्त्वा मुनिः प्रागात् कुशेध्माहरणाय वै । चिन्तयन् मनसा तं च मणिं शत्रुविनाशनम् ) ।। ११.

(Having spoken thus, the sage went eastward to gather sacred grass and firewood, all the while reflecting in his mind on that gem, the destroyer of enemies.)

एवमुक्तस्तदा दूतो जगाम च नृपान्तिकम् । कथयामास तत्सर्वं यदुक्तं ब्राह्मणेन च ।। ११.

Thus addressed, the messenger then went to the king and reported everything that the Brahmin had said.

ततः क्रोधपरीतात्मा श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणभाषितम् । दुर्जयः प्राह नीलाख्यं सामन्तं गच्छ माचिरम् । ब्राह्मणस्य मणिं गृह्य तूर्णमेहि यदृच्छया ।। ११.

Then, filled with anger upon hearing the Brahmin's words, Durjaya said to the vassal named Nila: 'Go at once, seize the Brahmin's gem, and return quickly, by any means.'

एवमुक्तस्तदा नीलो बहुसेनापरिच्छदः । जगाम स च विप्रस्य वन्यमाश्रममण्डलम् ।। ११.

Thus ordered, Nila, accompanied by a great army, went to the sage's forest hermitage.