विचार्येति तवाहं वै जातोऽस्मि स्वयमेव च
Considering thus, I myself have been born for you.
प्राप्तोऽसि परमां सिद्धिं त्वत्पुत्रोऽहं यतः स्थितः
You have attained the highest accomplishment, for I, your son, have remained.
विस्मितस्तु तदोवाच कथं नाद्यापि मे हरिः
Astonished, he then said: How is it that Hari has not yet appeared to me?
यावत्तं न समीक्षिष्ये तावन्न विरतं तपः
Until I behold him, I shall not cease my austerities.
त्वमपि योगेन मथुरां व्रज सत्वरम्
You too, by means of yoga, go swiftly to Mathurā.
आमुष्यायणमादाय शीघ्रमत्र समानय
Bring Āmuṣyāyaṇa here quickly.
ततस्त्वाज्ञां समादाय नन्दी सत्वरमाव्रजत्
Then, having received your command, Nandī went swiftly.
दृष्ट्वामुष्यायणं तत्र पृष्ट्वा नाम तमप्युत १४४.
There, seeing Āmuṣyāyaṇa, he also asked his name.
सालंकायनशिष्योऽपि आमुष्यायणसंज्ञितः
He was a disciple of Sālaṃkāyana, known as Āmuṣyāyaṇa.
गुरोश्च कुशलं ब्रूहि कुत्रास्ते स तपोधनः
He said: Tell me, is the guru well? Where does that ascetic reside?
तन्मे विस्तरतो ब्रूहि अर्घ्यश्चैवोपगृह्यताम्
Tell me this in detail, and let the arghya offering be presented.
वृत्तान्तं कथयामास त्वागमस्य च कारणम्
He narrated the events and the reason for your coming.
दिनैः कतिपयैश्चैव गण्डकीतीरमाश्रितः
And after a few days, he reached the bank of the Gaṇḍakī.
देविका नाम देवानां प्रभावाच्च तपस्यताम्
There, by the power of the gods, Devikā by name, was engaged in austerities.
आश्रमादपरा चासीत्पुलस्त्यपुलहाश्रमात्
Beyond the hermitage, there was another, belonging to Pulastya and Pulaha.
कामिकं तन्महातीर्थं पितॄणामतिवल्लभम्
That great sacred place, Kāmika, is most beloved to the ancestors.
मुक्तिभुक्तिप्रदं देवि दर्शनादघनाशनम्
O goddess, by visiting it, one obtains liberation and enjoyment, and the destruction of great sins.
धरण्युवाच शूलटङ्क इति ख्यातः सोमेश इति चापरः ।। १४४.
The Earth said: It is known as Śūlaṭaṅka, and also as Someśa.
वेणीमाधवनाम्नाऽपि यत्र विष्णुः स्वयं स्थितः
There too, Viṣṇu himself abides under the name Veṇī Mādhava.
सर्वेषां चैव देवानामृषीणां सरसामपि
It is dear to all the gods, sages, and even the lakes.
यत्राप्लुता दिवं यान्ति मृता मुक्तिं प्रयान्ति च
Where those who have bathed ascend to heaven, and the dead attain liberation.
सैव त्रिवेणी विख्याता किमपूर्वां प्रशंससि
That alone is renowned as the Triveṇī—why do you praise some unprecedented place?
तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग लोकानां हितकाम्यया
Therefore, O greatly fortunate one, tell that for the welfare of the worlds.
श्रीवराह उवाच अत्र ते कीर्त्तयिष्यामि सेतिहासां कथां शुभाम्
Śrī Varāha said: Here I shall recount to you an auspicious story with history.
पुरा विष्णुस्तपस्तेपे लोकानां हितकाम्यया
Long ago, Viṣṇu performed austerities for the welfare of the worlds.
ततो बहुतिथे काले याते सति तपस्यतः
Then, after a long time had passed as he practiced austerities,
तस्योष्मणा समुद्भूतः स्वेदपूरस्तु गण्डयोः
From the heat of his body arose a flood of sweat from his cheeks.
महर्लोकादयः सर्वे विस्मिताः सर्वतो दिशम् १४४.
All the beings of Maharloka and beyond were astonished in every direction.
देवाः सर्वे ततो जग्मुर्ब्रह्माणं प्रति चोत्सुकाः
Then all the gods, eager, went to Brahmā.
ब्रह्मापि हि न जानाति मोहितस्तस्य मायया
Even Brahmā did not know, being deluded by his māyā.