Varaha Purana

गङ्गया मिलिता यत्र भागीरथ्या महाफला

Where the holy Bhagirathi joins the Ganga, there is great merit.

आदौ सा गण्डकी पुण्या भागीरथ्या च सङ्गता

At first, the sacred Gandaki, united with the Bhagirathi, is praised.

एतत्ते कथितं भद्रे शालग्रामस्य सुन्दरि

This, O beautiful one, is what has been told to you about Shalagrama.

पूर्वपृष्टं तया यच्च पुण्यं भागवतप्रियम्

And the merit that is dear to the devotees of Bhagavan, which was previously described by her—

पुण्यानां परमं पुण्यं तपसां च महत्तपः

It is the highest of all merits and the greatest of all austerities.

महालाभस्तु लाभानां नास्त्यस्मादपरं महत्

Among all gains, this is the greatest; there is no other higher than this.

नीचाय न च दातव्यं ये न जानन्ति सेवितुम् १४५.

It should not be given to the unworthy, nor to those who do not know how to serve.

लोभमोहमदाद्यैर्ये वर्जिताः पुण्यबुद्धयः

Those who are free from greed, delusion, pride, and the like, whose minds are virtuous—

कुलानि तारितान्येवं सप्त सप्त च सप्त च

Such persons uplift their families—seven paternal, seven maternal, and seven by marriage.

यदीच्छेत्परमां सिद्धिं मम लोकं स गच्छति

If one desires the highest attainment, he goes to my world.

कथितं ते महादेवि किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि

This has been told to you, O great goddess; what else do you wish to hear?

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे भगवच्छास्त्रे शालग्रामक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं नाम पंचचत्वारिंशदधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one hundred forty-fifth chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of the Śālagrāma Field,' in the divine scripture, the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa.

अथ रुरुक्षेत्रस्थहृषीकेशमाहात्म्यम् शालग्रामस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा गुह्यं महौजसम्

Now, the greatness of Hṛṣīkeśa at Ruru Kṣetra: Having heard the secret and mighty greatness of Śālagrāma—

धरण्युवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाभाग जातास्मि विगतज्वरा

The Earth said: Having heard this, O greatly fortunate one, I am now free from distress.

रुरुषण्डमिति प्रोक्तं यत्त्वया परमार्च्चितम्

That which you have called Ruruṣaṇḍa, which has been supremely worshipped by you—

यन्नाम्ना परमं क्षेत्रं हृषीकेश त्वयाश्रितम्

That supreme field, O Hṛṣīkeśa, which you have taken refuge in by that name—

श्रीवराह उवाच भृगुवंशे समुत्पन्नो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः

Śrī Varāha said: In the lineage of Bhṛgu was born one who had mastered the Vedas and their branches,

यज्ञविद्यासु कुशलो व्रतनिष्ठोऽतिथिप्रियः

Skilled in the sciences of sacrifice, devoted to vows, and fond of guests,

शान्तैर्मृगगणैः कीर्णं कन्दमूलफलान्वितम्

Surrounded by peaceful herds of deer, and rich in roots, bulbs, and fruits,

वर्षाणामयुतं साग्रं तत इन्द्रो व्यचिन्तयत्

For more than ten thousand years, then Indra considered—

उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं क्षुब्धेन्द्रियमनाः प्रभुः

The Lord, his senses and mind agitated, spoke sweet words—

तस्य मे चिन्तयानस्य यूयमेव परा गतिः 146.

As I pondered, it is you alone who are the supreme path for me.

तदिन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ते काममलयानिलाः

Hearing Indra’s words, those winds carrying desire—

जितेन्द्रियस्यापि मनः कस्य संक्षोभयामहे

Whose mind, even if self-controlled, can we not disturb?

आज्ञाप्रसादं ते लब्ध्वा वद शीघ्रं सुखी भव

Having received your permission, speak quickly and be happy.

तदैव मे गता चिन्ता भवतां दर्शनं यदा

At that very moment, my anxiety vanished when I saw you.

हिमशैले महारम्ये हृषीकेशाश्रितो मुनिः

The sage, devoted to Hṛṣīkeśa, was residing on the beautiful snowy mountain.

जिघृक्षुर्मे पदं नूनं तत्तपो विनिवर्त्यताम्

Surely, desiring to seize my position, you should turn back from this austerity.

प्रस्थानाय मतिं चक्रुः कामदेवपुरःसराः

Then, led by Kāma, they resolved to set out.