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.'
धरण्युवाच असिकुण्डेति संज्ञेयं तन्मे त्वं कथय प्रभो
The Earth said: This is known as Asikuṇḍa; please tell me about it, Lord.
श्रीवराह उवाच तीर्थयात्रानिमित्तेन स्वर्गलोकं गतः पुरा
Śrī Varāha said: Once, for the sake of pilgrimage, a king went to heaven.
गते स्वर्गं तु नृपतौ पुत्रो राज्यं चकार ह
When the king had gone to heaven, his son ruled the kingdom.
राज्यं च कुर्वतस्तस्य आगतो नारदस्तदा
While he was ruling the kingdom, Nārada came at that time.
प्रतिगृह्य च तत्सर्वं तमुवाच स नारदः
Having accepted all that, Nārada spoke to him.
इत्युक्त्वा नारदस्तत्र तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Having said this, Nārada vanished right there.
तदा किमुक्तमृषिणा नारदेन पितुः कृते
At that time, what did the sage Nārada say on behalf of your father?
मन्त्रिणश्च ततो ज्ञात्वा पितुर्मरणमेव च
Then the ministers, having learned of the father's death,
अतएवोक्तमानृण्यं नारदेन पितुस्तव
Therefore, Nārada spoke of your father's freedom from debt.
विमतेर्बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना गच्छामो मथुरां पुरीम् 166.
A thought arose in the mind: Let us go to the city of Mathurā.