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.
कथं धारयसे प्राणान्वृक्षमूलं समाश्रितः ।। 165.
How do you sustain your life, sheltered at the root of a tree?
प्रेत उवाच वाचकाय तु यद्दत्तं सुवर्णस्य च माषकम्
The departed soul said: 'What was given to the reciter, a measure of gold,'
तद्दानस्य प्रभावेण नित्यं तृप्तोऽस्मि वै विभो
By the power of that gift, O Lord, I am always satisfied.
प्रेतभावं गतस्यापि न मे ज्ञानस्य विभ्रमः
Even though I have entered the state of a departed soul, my knowledge has not been confused.
कृतं तेन च तत्सर्वं यथा प्रेतेन भाषितम्
All that was done as spoken by the departed soul.
एतत्ते कथितं भूमे माहात्म्यं मथुराभवम्
This, O Earth, is the greatness of Mathurā that has been told to you.
तीर्थे चैव गृहे वापि देवस्थानेऽपि चत्वरे
Whether at a sacred place, in a house, at a temple, or in a public square,
अन्यत्र हि कृतं पापं तीर्थमासाद्य गच्छति
Sin committed elsewhere departs upon reaching a sacred place.
मथुरायां कृतं पापं तत्रैव च विनश्यति
Sin committed in Mathurā is destroyed right there itself.
कृतघ्नश्च सुरापश्च चौरो भग्नव्रतस्तथा
One who is ungrateful, a drinker of liquor, a thief, or one who has broken a vow,
तिष्ठेद्युगसहस्रं तु पादेनैकेन यः पुमान् 165.
Such a man must stand for a thousand ages on one foot.
परदाररता ये च ये नरा अजितेंद्रियाः
Those men who delight in others’ wives and whose senses are uncontrolled,
बलिभिक्षाप्रदातारस्ते मृताः क्रोधवर्जिताः
Those who give offerings and alms, dying free from anger,
यदन्येषां सहस्रेण ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम्
What is gained by a thousand great-souled brāhmaṇas elsewhere,
अनृग्वै माथुरो यत्र चतुर्वेदस्तथापरः
Where the one without Ṛgveda is called Māthura, and another is versed in all four Vedas,
भवन्ति सर्वतीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च
There exist all sacred places and holy abodes.
चतुर्वेदं परित्यज्य माथुरं पूजयेत्सदा
Abandoning the four Vedas, one should always worship Māthura.
मथुरावासिनो लोकान्पश्यन्ति च चतुर्भुजान्
The residents of Mathurā behold the worlds and the four-armed Lord.
ज्ञानिनस्तान्हि पश्यन्ति अज्ञाः पश्यन्ति तान्न च
The wise indeed see them; the ignorant do not see them.
इति श्रीवराहपुराणे मथुरामाहात्म्ये कूपप्रभावे ब्राह्मणमाहात्म्यं नाम पंचषष्ट्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa, in the section on the glory of Mathurā, in the account of the power of wells, is the one hundred sixty-fifth chapter named 'The Greatness of Brāhmaṇas.'