अरिष्टराधाकुण्डाभ्यां स्नानात्फलमवाप्नुयात्
By bathing in Ariṣṭa and Rādhā ponds, one attains the fruit.
गोनरब्रह्महत्यायाः पापं क्षिप्रं विनश्यति
The sin of killing a cow or a Brahmin is quickly destroyed.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
By merely seeing it, one is freed from all sins.
इन्द्रध्वजमिति ख्यातं तीर्थ चैवातिमुक्तिदम् 164.
The sacred site is known as Indradhvaja and grants supreme liberation.
ततो हरो निवेद्याशु यात्राफलमनुत्तमम्
Then Hara swiftly declared the unsurpassed fruit of the pilgrimage.
समाप्य तीर्थयात्रां च रात्रौ जागरणं तथा
Having completed the pilgrimage to the sacred sites, one should also keep vigil at night.
एकादश्यां तदा रात्रौ कृत्वा जागरणं शुभम्
On the night of Ekādaśī, one should perform the auspicious vigil.
पितॄणां मुक्तिदं तेषां य एवं कुरुते नरः
Whoever does so grants liberation to his ancestors.
एतत्ते कथितं भद्रे अन्नकूटपरिक्रमम्
O blessed one, thus I have described to you the circumambulation of Annakūṭa.
य एतच्छृणुयाद्भक्त्या तीर्थानुकमणं हरेः
Whoever hears with devotion this account of Hari's pilgrimage to the sacred sites—
इति श्रीवराहपुराणे मथुरामाहात्म्यान्तर्गते गोवर्द्धनमाहात्म्येऽन्नकूटपरिक्रमप्रभावो नाम चतुःषष्ट्यषिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-fourth chapter, named 'The Power of the Circumambulation of Annakūṭa,' in the section on the glory of Govardhana within the Mathurā Māhātmya of the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa.
श्रीवराह उवाच यथावृत्तं प्रतिष्ठाने दक्षिणापथमण्डले
Śrī Varāha said: As it happened in the establishment in the southern region—
सुशीलो नाम वैश्यस्तु तस्मिन्वसति पत्तने
There lived in that city a merchant named Suśīla.
कुटुम्बभरणासक्तो नित्यकालं हि तिष्ठति
He was constantly engaged in supporting his family.
क्रयविक्रयसक्तस्य कालो दीर्घो गतस्तदा
Much time passed as he was absorbed in buying and selling.
न तेन धर्मश्रवणं कदाचिदपि संश्रुतम्
He never once listened to teachings about dharma.
आत्मोदरनिमित्तं हि पापं च कुरुते सदा
For the sake of his own sustenance, he always committed sinful acts.
न तस्य जायते बुद्धिर्दानं दातुं कदाचन
He never developed the intention to give charity.
धनयुक्तोऽपि पापोऽसौ न ददाति कदाचन
Even though he possessed wealth, that sinful man never gave anything.
स तु कालेन महता कुटुम्बासक्तमानसः
After a long time, his mind still attached to his family,
त्यक्त्वा जगाम निधनं प्रेतत्वं समुपागतः 165.
he departed, leaving them behind, and died, attaining the state of a ghost.
परिभ्रमन्क्षुधाविष्टो मरुदेशं गतोऽपि सः
Wandering, afflicted by hunger, he entered a desert region.
कदाचिद्दैवयोगेन तत्र सार्थ उपागतः
Once, by the arrangement of fate, a caravan arrived there.
गते सार्थे तु स वणिक् तं वृक्षं समुपाश्रितः
When the caravan had passed, that merchant took shelter under a tree.
दीर्घदंष्ट्रः सुविकटो ह्रस्वबाहुर्विभीषणः
He was long-fanged, very hideous, short-armed, and terrifying.
अथ कालेन बहुना दैवयोगेन भामिनि
Then, after much time, by the will of fate, O beautiful one,
तं दृष्ट्वा दूरतः प्रेतश्चातिहर्षेण संयुतः
seeing him from afar, the ghost became filled with great joy.
भक्ष्यभूतो ममाद्यत्वं क्व भवान्यातुमिच्छति
He thought, 'Today you are to become my food; where do you wish to go?'
गच्छन्तं तं गृहीत्वा स प्रेतो वचनमब्रवीत्
Seizing him as he was departing, the ghost spoke these words:
मांसं ते भक्षयिष्यामि पिबामि तव शोणितम्
'I will eat your flesh and drink your blood.'