Varaha Purana

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,

स्नानस्य च फलं देहि ततो गच्छ यथासुखम् ।। प्रेतवाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा विभुर्वचनमब्रवीत्।165.

Give the fruit of the bath, then go as you please. Hearing the preta's words, Vibhu spoke:

नाहं यास्यामि मथुरां द्रव्याभावे कथंचन

I will not go to Mathura at all, since I have no wealth.

प्रेत उवाच आस्ते धनमपर्याप्तं गच्छ त्वं मा विलम्बय

The preta said: There is sufficient wealth; go, do not delay.

विभुरुवाच गृहशेषं मम धनं न चान्यत्तत्र विद्यते

Vibhu said: The only wealth left to me is my house; there is nothing else there.

पितृपैतामही कीर्त्तिरविक्रेया हि सा मया

The ancestral honor of my forefathers is not to be sold by me.

अस्ति चैव धनं प्रोक्तं यन्मया त्वद्गृहे विभो

There is indeed wealth, as I have told you, O Vibhu, in your house.

निवर्त्त गच्छ संतुष्टः सुहृदां प्रीतिवर्द्धनः

Return, go content, and increase the joy of your friends.

सूत उवाच इमामवस्थां सम्प्राप्य कथं ज्ञानसमुद्भवः

Sūta said: Having reached this state, how did knowledge arise?

ततः स कथयामास यद्वृत्तं हि पुरातनम्

Then he began to recount what had happened in ancient times.

प्रभातसमये तत्र विष्णोरायतने शुभे

At dawn, in that auspicious temple of Vishnu,

वाचकस्तत्र पठति कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् 165.

There, the reciter reads the sacred Purāṇic story.

तस्मिन्काले तु मित्रेण नीतोऽहं विष्णुमन्दिरम्। अत्यादरेण महता सन्तोष्य च पुनः पुनः

At that time, my friend led me to Vishnu's temple with great reverence, repeatedly pleasing me.

मित्रेण सह तत्रैव तस्य पार्श्वे व्यवस्थितः

Together with my friend, I remained there, at his side.

समुद्राः किल तिष्ठन्ति चत्वारोऽत्र समागताः

It is said that four oceans are gathered there.

वाचकाय ततो दानं दत्तं सर्वैर्महाजनैः

Then, all the great people gave gifts to the reciter.

मित्रेण च पुनः प्रोक्तं यथाशक्त्या प्रदीयताम्

Again, my friend said: 'Give as much as you are able.'

ततः कालेन महता गतो वैवस्वतक्षयम्

Then, after a long time, I reached the destruction brought by Vaivasvata.

प्रेतत्वं समनुप्राप्तो दुस्तरं दुर्गमं महत्

I attained the state of a departed soul, vast and difficult to cross.

न तर्पितास्तु पितरः प्राप्तोऽहं प्रेततां ततः

My ancestors were not satisfied, so I entered the condition of a departed soul.

गच्छ त्वं सम्मुखस्तत्र यत्र सा मथुरा पुरी

Go, you must face that place where the city of Mathurā is.