Varaha Purana

ब्रह्मा तं च महादेवं पप्रच्छ प्रणतः स्थिताः

Brahmā, bowing, questioned that great god.

येन प्रत्याहता क्ष्माऽसौ जगद्व्यतिकरावहा

By whom was this earth restrained, which brings about disturbances in the world?

शिवः क्षणं ततो ध्यात्वा ब्रह्माद्यान् प्रत्युवाच ह

Śiva, after meditating for a moment, spoke to Brahmā and the others.

जगाम देवसहितः सोमः सहगणः प्रभुः

Soma, the lord, together with the gods and his attendants, went there.

उवाच परमप्रीतस्तदा शम्भुः स्मयन्निव

Then Śambhu, supremely pleased, spoke, as if smiling.

सर्वाधारोऽ खिलाध्यक्षस्तत्किं यत्तव दुर्ल्लभम्

He who is the support of all, the overseer of everything—what is there that is difficult for you?

अहं लोकहितार्थाय तपस्तप्तुं समुद्यतः १४४.

I have undertaken austerities for the sake of the welfare of the worlds.

त्वद्दर्शनममनुप्राप्य कृतार्थोऽस्मि जगत्पते

Having attained your vision, O Lord of the world, I am fulfilled.

शिव उवाच गण्डस्वेदोद्भवा यत्र गण्डकी सरितां वरा

Śiva said: Where the Gaṇḍakī river, best among rivers, arises from the sweat of the cheek,

भविष्यति न सन्देहो यस्या गर्भे भविष्यति

There will be no doubt that in whose womb it will be,

अहं ब्रह्मा च देवाश्च ऋषिभिः सह केशव

I, Brahmā, the gods, and the sages together, O Keśava,

वसिष्यामः सदैवात्र गण्डक्यां जगतां पते

Will always remain here, O Lord of the world, in the Gaṇḍakī.

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो मुक्तिभागी न संशयः

Freed from all sins, one attains liberation here, without doubt.

यत्र स्नानेन लभ्येत गंगास्नानफलं नरैः

Where, by bathing, people obtain the fruit of bathing in the Gaṅgā,

यस्यास्तत्समतां कान्या लभेद्गंगां विना नदीम्

Which other river, apart from the Gaṅgā, could equal its merit?

अपरा देविका नाम्ना गण्डक्या सह संगता

Another river named Devikā joined together with the Gaṇḍakī.

यत्र सृष्टिविधानार्थं कृत्वाश्रमपदं पृथक् १४४.

Where, for the purpose of creation, having made a separate hermitage,

ततोऽभूद्ब्रह्मतनया पुण्या सा सरितां वरा

Then arose Brahmā’s daughter, holy and foremost among rivers.

त्रिवेणी सा महापुण्या देवानामपि दुर्ल्लभा

That Triveṇī is supremely holy, rare even for the gods.

पुरा वेदनिधेः पुत्रौ जयो विजय एव च

Long ago, from the ocean of Vedas, two sons were born: Jaya and Vijaya.

तृणबिन्दोः सुतौ पापौ जातौ दृष्ट्यैव सुव्रतौ

From Tṛṇabindu, two sons, sinful but virtuous in sight, were born.

पूजयन्तौ हरिं भक्त्या तन्निष्ठेन्द्रियमानसौ

Worshipping Hari with devotion, their senses and minds fixed on him,

ददाति पूजावसरे भक्त्या किल वशीकृतः

At the occasion of worship, Hari, captivated by their devotion, grants (them).

राज्ञा समाप्तयज्ञेन पूजयित्वा पुरस्कृतौ

Having been honored by the king after the completion of the sacrifice, they were set forward.

विभागं कर्त्तुमारब्धौ पस्पर्द्धाते परस्परम्

They began to divide (the offerings), and competed with each other.

विजयश्चाब्रवीच्चैनं येन लब्धं हि तस्य तत्

And Vijaya said to him, 'That which you have obtained belongs to him.'

न ददासि गृहीत्वा यत्तस्माद्ग्राहत्वमाप्नुहि १४४.

'You do not give back what you have taken; therefore, become a crocodile.'

गजो भव मदान्धस्त्वं यो मामेवं प्रभाषसे

'Become an elephant, blinded by pride, since you speak to me in this way.'

गण्डक्यामेव सञ्जातो ग्राहः पूर्वस्मृतिर्द्विजः

In the Gaṇḍakī river, he was born as a crocodile, the twice-born who remembered his former life.