Varaha Purana

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.

चतुर्णामश्वमेधानां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः १४५.

A person attains the fruit of four horse sacrifices there.

अश्वमेधफलं भुक्त्वा मम लोके स मोदते

Having enjoyed the fruit of the horse sacrifice, he rejoices in my world.

चक्राङ्कितशिलास्तत्र दृश्यन्ते च इतस्ततः

There, stones marked with the discus are seen here and there.

तदेतद्विद्धि वसुधे समन्ता द्योजनत्रयम्

Know, O Earth, that this extends all around for three yojanas.

त्रयाणामपि यज्ञानां फलं प्राप्नोति निश्चितम्

One certainly attains the fruit of three sacrifices there.

वाजपेयफलं भुक्त्वा मम् लोकं च गच्छति

Having enjoyed the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice, he goes to my world.

तिस्रो धाराः पतन्त्यत्र हिमकूटं समाश्रिताः

Three streams descend here, resting upon the snowy peak.

त्रयाणामपि रात्रीणां फलं प्राप्नोति निष्कलम्

One attains the pure fruit of three nights.

अतिरात्रफलं भुक्त्वा मम लोके महीयते

Having enjoyed the fruit of the Atirātra rite, he is honored in my world.

अत्र चैव ह्रदस्रोतो बदरीवृक्षनिःसृतः

Here, indeed, a lake's current emerges from the jujube tree.