Varaha Purana

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.

नरमेधस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः १४५.

A person attains the fruit of the Naramedha sacrifice here.

नरमेधफलं भुक्त्वा मम लोके च मोदते

Having enjoyed the fruit of the Naramedha, he delights in my world.

तत्र शङ्खप्रभं नाम गुह्यं क्षेत्रं परं मम

There is a secret, supreme field of mine called Śaṅkhaprabha.

गदाकुण्डमिति ख्यातं तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे परं मम

In that field of mine, the place known as Gadākuṇḍa is celebrated.

तत्र स्नानं तु कुर्वीत त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः

There, a man should bathe after fasting for three nights.

अथ वै मुंचते प्राणान्कृतकृत्यो गुणान्वितः

Then, indeed, he departs this life, accomplished and endowed with virtues.

पुनश्चाग्निप्रभं नाम गुह्यं क्षेत्रं परं मम

Again, there is a secret, supreme field of mine called Agniprabha.

यस्तत्र कुरुते स्नानं चतूरात्रोषितो नरः

Whoever bathes there after fasting for four nights—

अथात्र मुंचते प्राणान् मम कर्मसु निष्ठितः

Then, at that place, he relinquishes his life, established in my deeds.

तत्राश्चर्यं महाभागे कथ्यमानं मया शृणु

O noble one, hear from me the wondrous thing spoken of there.