Varaha Purana

तपस्तीव्रं समास्थाय शोषयिष्ये कलेवरम्

"I will undertake severe austerity and dry up this body."

गण्डकीसंगमे स्नात्वा सन्तर्प्य पितृदेवताः 146.

Having bathed at the confluence of the Gaṇḍakī, and having satisfied the ancestors and the gods,

पश्यन्भृग्वाश्रमं रम्यमुत्तरं गतवान् शनैः

He slowly proceeded northward, beholding the beautiful hermitage of Bhṛgu.

दृष्ट्वा तीरेषु विश्रांतस्तपोभूमिमचिंतयत्

Having seen it, he rested on the banks and contemplated the place of austerity.

अतप्यत तपो घोरं शिवदर्शनलालसः

He performed severe austerity, longing for a vision of Śiva.

लिंगरूपधरः साक्षादुपर्यपि तथा ह्यधः

Śiva, assuming the form of a liṅga, appeared there—above, and likewise below.

उवाच च प्रसन्नात्मा मुने पश्य च मां शिवम्

And with a gracious heart, he spoke: 'O sage, behold me—Śiva.'

पूर्वमन्तरभावेन दृष्टवानसि यन्मम

'That which you have previously seen of me in a subtle form—'

आवामेकेन भावेन पश्यंस्त्वं सिद्धिमाप्स्यसि

'Now, seeing us as one, you shall attain perfection.'

समंगमिति विख्यातमेतत्स्थानं भविष्यति

'This place will become renowned as Samaṅgama.'

तस्य योगफलं सम्यग्भविष्यति न संशयः

'The fruit of his yoga here will be complete—of this there is no doubt.'

देवदत्तोऽपि स मुनिः सम्प्राप्य ज्ञानमुत्तमम् 146.

That sage, Devadatta, also attained supreme knowledge.

प्रम्लोचापि मुनेर्गर्भं सम्प्राप्याश्रममन्तिकात्

And Pramlocā, having conceived the sage's child, departed from the vicinity of the hermitage.

पुनर्जातमिवात्मानं मन्यमाना शुचिस्मिता

Śucismitā, thinking herself as if reborn, smiled with purity.

ततः सुनिश्चयं कृत्वा तपसे धृतमानसा

Then, having firmly resolved, she set her mind to austerity.

मासे सा प्रथमे बाला फलाहारपरायणा

In the first month, the girl subsisted solely on fruits.

तृतीये पंचम दिने चतुर्थे सप्तमांतरे

On the fifth day of the third month, and in the interval of the seventh in the fourth month—

मासेन सप्तमे चैव शीर्णपर्णाशनाष्टमे

In the seventh month, and in the eighth, she ate only fallen leaves.

सैवं वर्षशतं स्थित्वा हरावेकाग्रमानसा

Thus, for a hundred years, she remained, her mind fixed solely on Hara.

द्वन्द्वानि नाविदच्चापि आत्मभूतान्तरं विना

He did not perceive the pairs of opposites, nor any other being apart from himself.

तत्तेजसा वृतं सर्वं तदा दृष्ट्वा वसुन्धरे 146.

Then, seeing the earth enveloped entirely by that radiance—

सन्निरुद्धेन्द्रियग्रामा नाचक्षत बहिःस्थितम्

With the group of senses restrained, he did not see anything existing outside.

स्थितोऽहं वसुधे देवि अक्ष्णोः प्रत्यक्षतां गतः

O Earth, O goddess, I stood there, manifest before his very eyes.

हृषीकेश इति ख्यातो नाम्ना तत्रैव संस्थितः

There, I became known by the name Hṛṣīkeśa, established in that very place.

बहिः स्थितं च मां दृष्ट्वा प्रणनाम कृताञ्जलिः

Seeing me standing outside, he bowed down with joined palms.

रोमांचिततनुश्चासीत्कदम्बमुकुलाकृतिः

Her body became thrilled, resembling the buds of the kadamba tree.

अयि बाले विशालाक्षि तुष्टोऽहं तपसस्तव

O young maiden with wide eyes, I am pleased with your austerity.

अदेयमपि ते दद्मि यदन्येषां सुदुर्ल्लभम्

I grant you even that which is not to be given, which is exceedingly rare for others.

स्तुत्वा तं देवदेवेशं प्रबद्धकरसंपुटा

Having praised that Lord of gods, with hands joined in reverence—