Varaha Purana

द्वादश्यां च चतुर्दश्यां श्रद्दधाना जितेन्द्रियाः

On the twelfth and fourteenth days, those who are faithful and self-controlled—

तस्मिन्काले ह्यहं देवि मथुरायां समागतः

At that time, O Devi, I arrived in Mathura.

तत्र कृत्वा च हैरण्या मूर्त्तयश्च चतुर्विधाः

There, I established four kinds of golden images.

सुदृढाः सुदृशः सुभ्रू यः पश्यति स मुच्यते

Whoever beholds these images—firm, beautiful, with lovely brows—he is liberated.

वामनस्य तृतीया वै चतुर्थी राघवस्य च

The third is of Vamana, and the fourth is of Raghava.

चतुःसागरपर्यन्ता क्रान्ता तेन धरा ध्रुवम्

By him, the earth, bounded by the four oceans, was surely traversed.

तत्र सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु असिकुण्डं महत्तरम्

Among all the sacred places there, Asikunda is the greatest.

असिकुण्डं समारभ्य तीर्थानुक्रमणिका वरा

Beginning from Asikunda, O excellent one, the sequence of holy sites is recounted.

मूर्त्तीः पश्यति यस्तास्तु ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते 166.

Whoever beholds those images there becomes fit for union with Brahman.

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे असिकुण्डप्रभावो नाम षट्षष्ट्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one hundred sixty-sixth chapter, named 'The Glory of Asikunda,' in the glorious Varaha Purana.

श्रीवराह उवाच राक्षसेन पुरा प्रोक्ता ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने

Sri Varaha said: Formerly, a Rakshasa spoke to a great-souled Brahmin.

पृथिव्युवाच किमर्थं पृष्टवान्विप्रः सर्वं कथय मे प्रभो

The Earth said: For what reason did the Brahmin ask? Tell me everything, Lord.

श्रीवराह उवाच न स पूजयते देवान्न स साधून्नमस्यति

Sri Varaha said: He does not worship the gods, nor does he honor the virtuous.

पुण्यतीर्थं समासाद्य न च स्नानं करोति सः

Even upon reaching a holy place, he does not perform bathing.

सन्ध्ये द्वे शयने चैव नित्यं मूढः स तिष्ठति

At both twilights and while lying down, that deluded one always remains so.

पापाचाररतो नित्यं पापसङ्गः सुदुर्मतिः

Always delighting in sinful conduct, associating with evil, his mind is most wicked.

गार्हस्थ्यं सर्वधर्माणां श्रेष्ठमुक्तं स्वयंभुवा

Of all duties, householdership has been declared the best by the Self-born.

यथा मातरमाश्रित्य सर्वे जीवन्ति जन्तवः

Just as all creatures live depending on their mother,

ततः स चौर्यं कुर्वाणः पापैः सह नराधमः

So that most wicked man, committing theft, joins with sins.

पलायमानः स परमन्धकूपेऽपतत्तदा 167.

While fleeing, he then fell into a deep, dark pit.

अन्धकूपे स पतितो घोररूपोऽवसत्तदा

Having fallen into the pit, he, appearing terrifying, remained there.

तेषां मध्ये द्विजः कश्चिद्रक्षां कृत्वा वसुन्धरे

Among them, one Brahmin protected the earth by means of a charm.

तत्रागत्य च रक्षस्तु ब्राह्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् अहं दास्यामि ते विप्र यत्ते मनसि वर्त्तते

Then a demon came there and spoke to the Brahmin: 'O Brahmin, I shall give you whatever is in your mind.'

बहुकालेन संप्राप्तं भोजनं च यथेप्सितम्

'Food, long awaited, and as much as you desire.'

येनाहं भक्षये सार्थं यावत्तृप्तिर्भवेन्मम

'By which I may devour the caravan until I am satisfied.'

एकः सार्थं प्रयातोऽहं नोत्सृजामि कथंचन

'I have come alone for the caravan; I will not let it go under any circumstance.'

निरीक्षितुं न शक्तोऽसि मम मन्त्रबलेन हि मम भक्ष्ये हते विप्र दोषस्तव भविष्यति

'You are not able to look at me, for by the power of my mantra, if my food is killed, O Brahmin, the fault will be yours.'

दयां कुरु त्वं विप्रर्षे भोजनं मम दीयताम्

'Have compassion, O best of Brahmins, let food be given to me.'

केन त्वं कर्मदोषेण राक्षसत्वमुपागतः

'By what fault of action have you attained the state of a demon?'