Varaha Purana

स्थित्वा मत्प्रमुखे चैव स्तुवन्नेवं मम प्रियम्

Standing before me, he praised me in this way, which was dear to me.

स्तोत्रैः सम्पूज्यमानो हि गतोऽहं पश्चिमां दिशम्

Being worshipped with hymns, I went to the western direction.

यजुर्वेदोक्तमन्त्रेण संस्तुतः पश्चिमां गतः

Praised with mantras from the Yajur Veda, I went to the west.

तत्रापि सामवेदोक्तैर्मन्त्रैस्तुष्टाव मां मुनिः

There too, the sage praised me with mantras from the Sama Veda.

प्राप्तश्च परमां प्रीतिं तमवोचमृषिं तदा

Having attained the highest joy, I then spoke to that sage.

तपसानेन सन्तुष्टः स्तुत्या चैवानया तव

Pleased by this austerity and also by your praise,

एवमुक्तः स तु मया सालंकायनको मुनिः

Thus addressed by me, the sage Salaṃkāyana,

ततो मां भाषते देवि स ऋषिः संशितव्रतः

Then, O goddess, that sage of firm vows spoke to me.

पर्यटामि महीं सर्वां सशैलवनकाननाम्

I wander over the whole earth, with its mountains, forests, and groves.

यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे देव सर्वशान्तिकरः परः १४५.

If you are pleased with me, O supreme god, bringer of all peace,

तदा देहि जगन्नाथ ममेश्वर समं सुतम्

Then, O Lord of the universe, grant me a son equal to yourself.

एवं वरं याचितोऽस्मि मुनिना भीमकर्मणा

Thus, I was asked for this boon by the sage of mighty deeds.

एवं तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणस्य तपस्विनः

Hearing these words of the austere Brahmin,

चिरकालं व्रतस्थेन यत्त्वया चिन्तितं मुने

What you have long contemplated, O sage, while observing your vow,

ईश्वरस्य परा मूर्त्तिर्नाम्ना वै नन्दिकेश्वरः

The supreme form of the Lord, by name Nandikeśvara,

संहरस्व तपो ब्रह्मञ्शान्तिं गच्छ महामुने

Cease your austerity, O Brahmin, and attain peace, great sage.

त्वं न जानासि विप्रर्षे स जातो नन्दिकेश्वरः

You do not know, O best of seers, that he has been born as Nandikeśvara.

मथुरायाः समानीय आमुष्यायणसंज्ञितम्

From Mathurā, bring the one known as Āmuṣyāyaṇa.

तत्राश्रमे महाभाग स्थित्वा त्वं तपसां निधे

There, O most fortunate one, remain in the hermitage, you who are a treasure of austerities.

अन्यच्च गुह्यं वक्ष्यामि सालङ्कायन तच्छृणु १४५.

Moreover, I will tell you a secret, O Śālaṅkāyana; listen to this.

शालग्राममिति ख्यातं तन्निबोध मुने शुभम्

Learn, O sage, about the auspicious place called Śālagrāma.

एतत्कोऽपि न जानाति विना देवं महेश्वरम्

No one knows this except the great god Maheśvara.

एवं तस्मै वरं दत्त्वा सालंकायनकाय वै

Thus, having granted a boon to Śālaṅkāyana,

पश्यतस्तस्य वसुधे तत्रैवान्तर्हितोऽभवम्

While he was watching, O Earth, I disappeared right there.

मम तद्रोचते स्थानं गिरिकूटशिलोच्चये

That place delights me, on the lofty peak of the mountain.

तत्र गुह्यानि मे भूमे वक्ष्यमाणानि मे शृणु

There, O Earth, listen as I speak to you of my secrets.

गुह्यानि तत्र वसुधे तीर्थानि दश पंच च

There, O Earth, are fifteen secret sacred fords.

तत्र बिल्वप्रभं नाम गुह्यं क्षेत्रं मम प्रियम्

There is a secret field called Bilvaprabha, dear to me.

हृद्यं तत्परमं गुह्यं भक्तकर्मसुखावहम्

It is delightful, supremely secret, and brings happiness to the deeds of devotees.