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.'
कुटुम्बभरणार्थाय सम्प्राप्तो दुर्गमाटवीम् 165.
I have come to this difficult forest for the sake of supporting my family.
मयि सम्भक्षिते रक्षः कुटुम्बं हि मरिष्यति
If the demon devours me, my family will surely perish.
कस्मात्स्थानात्समायातः सत्यं ब्रूहि महामते
From what place have you come? Speak the truth, O wise one.
विभुरुवाच तयोर्मध्ये पुरी रम्या मथुरा लोकविश्रुता
Vibhu said: Among those two, the beautiful city of Mathura is renowned in the world.
तस्यां वसाम्यहं प्रेत पितृपैतामहे गृहे
In that city, I dwell in the ancestral house of my forefathers.
तत्सर्वं तस्करैर्नीतं क्षीणवित्तोऽभवं तदा
All of that was taken away by thieves, and then I became destitute.
तव दृष्टिपथं यातो यत्कार्यं तत्कुरुष्व मे
I have come within your sight; do for me what must be done.
प्रेत उवाच समयेन हि मोक्ष्यामि कुरुष्व वचनं मम
The preta said: I will release you at the appointed time; do as I say.
निर्वृत्य गच्छ मथुरां मम कार्यार्थसाधकः
After completing my task, go to Mathura for my sake.
स्नानं कृत्वा तु विधिवत्कूपे चातुःसामुद्रिके
Having bathed properly in the well with four auspicious marks,