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?'

अनाचारादि हेतोश्च राक्षसत्वमुपागतः 167.

'Because of misconduct and the like, I have attained the state of a demon.'

तस्य दुःखेन संयुक्तो विप्रोऽसौ वाक्यमब्रवीत् मित्रत्वे वर्त्तसे रक्षस्तव दास्यामि किं वद

Afflicted by his suffering, the Brahmin spoke: 'You behave as a friend, O demon; tell me, what shall I give you?'

आत्मना चोपकारेण प्रियं किं करवाणि ते ददासि यदि तद्विप्र यन्मे मनसि वर्त्तते

'By my own help, what dear thing shall I do for you? If you give, O Brahmin, that which is in my mind—'

मथुरायां च यत्स्नातं कृतं विश्रान्तिसंज्ञके

'And what was done at Viśrānti, after bathing at Mathurā—'

तेन दुःखेन संयुक्तो विप्रो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् कथं जानासि रक्षस्त्वं तीर्थं विश्रान्तिसंज्ञकम्

Afflicted by that sorrow, the Brahmin then spoke: 'How do you know, O demon, of the holy place called Viśrānti?'

कथं च संज्ञा तस्याभूत्कथय त्वं हि राक्षस पुरी उज्जयिनी नाम्ना तस्यां वासो हि मे सदा

'And how did it get that name? Tell me, O demon. The city named Ujjayinī—there I always dwelt.'

कस्मिंश्चिदथ कालेन गतोऽहं विष्णुमन्दिरम्

'At some time, I went to the temple of Viṣṇu.'

विश्रान्तितीर्थमाहात्म्यं श्रावयन्स दिनेदिने

'Day by day, I would proclaim the greatness of the Viśrānti holy place.'

सा संज्ञा च श्रुता तत्र विश्रान्तेश्च मयाऽनघ

There, O faultless one, that place is known as Viśrānti, and I have heard its name.

विश्रामं कुरुते तत्र तेन विश्रान्तिसंज्ञिता

One rests there, and thus it is called Viśrānti, the place of rest.