Varaha Purana

अल्पकालपरं चैव माससंवत्सरेति च

And indeed, it is only for a short time—be it a month or a year.

यस्यैतद्विदितं सर्वं न्यासयोगं वसुन्धरे

O Earth, for whom all this is known—the entire discipline of renunciation—

य एतच्छृणुयान्नित्यं कल्यमुत्थाय मानवः

Whoever, rising early, listens to this daily, O human—

एतत्ते कथितं भद्रे रहस्यं परमं महत्

This, O blessed one, is the supreme and great secret that has been told to you.

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे भगवच्छास्त्रे गुह्यकर्ममाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम द्वाचत्वारिंशदधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus, in the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa, in the divine scripture, is the one hundred forty-second chapter entitled 'The Greatness of Secret Rites.'

अथ मन्दारमहिमनिरूपणम् पुनरन्यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि एकान्तं शृणु सुन्दरि

Now, I will again describe the glory of Mandāra; listen attentively, O beautiful one, to this other account.

जाह्नव्या दक्षिणे कूले विन्ध्यपृष्ठसमाश्रितम्

On the southern bank of the Jāhnavī, situated on the slope of the Vindhya,

तत्र त्रेतायुगे भूमे रामो नाम महाद्युतिः

There, in the Tretā Yuga, O Earth, was Rāma by name, of great splendor.

नारायणमुखाच्छ्रुत्वा धर्मकामा वसुन्धरा

Having heard from the mouth of Nārāyaṇa, O Earth, desirous of righteousness,

धरण्युवाच मन्दारेति त्वया प्रोक्तं देवधर्मार्थसंयुतम्

Earth said: 'Mandāra has been spoken of by you, endowed with divine righteousness and purpose.'

मन्दारे कानि कर्माणि कुर्वन्ति च ततो नराः

What actions do people perform at Mandāra, and what results from them?

मन्दारे कानि गुह्यानि रहस्यं किंच तत्र वै

What are the secrets at Mandāra, and what is the mystery there?

श्रीवराह उवाच कथयिष्यामि ते गुह्यां मन्दारस्य महाक्रियाम्

Śrī Varāha said: 'I shall tell you the secret, the great rite of Mandāra.'

क्रीडमानोऽस्महं तत्र मन्दारे पुष्पिते तदा

At that time, I was playing there at Mandāra, when it was in bloom.

ततो ममाभवच्चिन्ता मन्दारे पर्वतस्थिते 143.

Then, as I was on Mandāra mountain, a thought arose in me.

विन्ध्ये च मत्प्रभावेण मन्दारश्च महाद्रुमः

And on the Vindhya, by my power, there is also the Mandara, the great tree.

दर्शनीयतमं स्थानं मनोज्ञं च शिलातलम्

A most delightful and charming place is the stone surface there.

विस्मयं शृणु सुश्रोणि मन्दारेऽस्मिन्महाद्रुमे

Hear of a marvel, O lovely-hipped one, concerning this great Mandara tree.

तत्र मध्याह्नवेलायां वीक्ष्यमाणो जनैस्ततः

There, at midday, it is beheld by people.

तस्मिन्मंदारकुण्डे तु एकभक्तोषितो नरः

There, in the Mandara pool, a man who stays fasting with a single meal—

अथ प्राणान्प्रमुच्येत कुण्डे मन्दारसंस्थिते

Then, if one gives up the breath of life in the pool at the base of the Mandara—

तस्य चोत्तरपार्श्वे च प्रापणं नाम वै गिरिः

And to its northern side is a mountain called Prapana.

स्नानकुण्डमिति ख्यातं तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे परं मम

There, in that field, is my supreme bathing pool, known as the Snanakunda.

तत्राथ मुंचते प्राणान्मम कर्मपरायणः 143.

There, then, one devoted to my deeds is released from life.

तस्य पूर्वोत्तरे पार्श्वे गुह्यं वैकुण्ठकारणम्

On its northeastern side is the secret cause of Vaikuntha.

यस्तत्र कुरुते स्नानमैकरात्रोषितो नरः

Whoever bathes there, having stayed a single night fasting—

तथाऽत्र मुंचते प्राणान्कृतकृत्यः सुनिश्चितः

Likewise, here, one certainly departs, having fulfilled all duties.

तस्य दक्षिणपूर्वेण समस्रोतो वरांगणे

To its southeast, in the beautiful Varangana, is a stream with even flow.

तत्र स्नानं तु कुर्वीत एकभक्तोषितो नरः

There, one should bathe, having stayed with a single meal and fasting.