Varaha Purana

पञ्जरस्थो यथा सिंहः कोऽस्मांस्त्राता भवेदिति 172.

Like a lion trapped in a cage, he wondered, 'Who will save us?'

रुरोदोच्चैः स्वरं दीना हा कष्टमिति जल्पती

She cried out in a loud, distressed voice, lamenting, 'Alas, how terrible!'

श्रूयते बहुधाकारो गोकर्णोऽप्यतिदुःखितः

It is heard that Gokarna, too, was deeply afflicted in many ways.

प्राञ्जलिर्दीनया वाचा सान्त्वयामास ताः शनैः

With joined palms and a gentle, sorrowful voice, he gradually consoled them.

भविता यदि तत्राहं राजानं तं निवारयम्

If I am present there, I will restrain that king.

इत्युक्तमात्रे वचने ताः सर्वा लब्धचेतसः कस्त्वं कथय कस्माच्च स्थानाद्यत्त्वमिहागतः

As soon as these words were spoken, all of them regained their composure: 'Who are you? Tell us, and why have you come here from your place?'

गोकर्ण उवाच पूर्वं दृष्टा भवत्यो वै चार्वंग्यश्चारुलोचनाः

Gokarna said: Formerly, I saw you all, beautiful in form and lovely-eyed.

इदानीं मलिना जाता मम शोकविवर्द्धनाः

Now you have become disheveled, increasing my sorrow.

ज्येष्ठा सोवाच तस्याग्रे पुष्पजात्या स्वलंकृताः

In front of him, the eldest spoke, adorned with flowers of her kind.

हृद्यवेषाः सुचार्वंग्यः पुष्पवृद्धिरताः तदा

At that time, they had pleasing forms, beautiful limbs, and were devoted to the growth of flowers.

राजलोकैः पीडिताश्च च्छेदनोन्मूलनेन च 172.

But they were afflicted by royal officials through cutting and uprooting.

पुष्पमालाविहीनाश्च मूलस्कन्धावशेषिताः

Deprived of garlands of flowers, only roots and trunks remained.

यो देवस्तत्र पाषाणो मृत्पिण्डेष्टकयन्त्रितः

The deity there is a stone, enclosed in a lump of clay or brick.

पुण्यं सोदकपूर्णोऽयं तस्यारामस्य सेचकम्

This water-filled vessel is meritorious; it serves as the irrigation for that grove.

ये च वृक्षाः फलोपेतास्ते सौवर्णाश्च सत्तम तस्या नाशाद्यथा नोऽत्र जातेयं च विरूपता

And those trees bearing fruit, and those of gold, O best one—if they are destroyed, such deformity as has arisen here will not occur.

गोकर्ण उवाच करणात्कूपदेवानां तस्य पुण्यफलं वद

Gokarna said: Tell me the meritorious result of making well-deities there.

ज्येष्ठोवाच इष्टेन लभते स्वर्गं पूर्त्ते मोक्षं च विन्दति

Jyeshtha said: By sacrifice one attains heaven; by charitable works, one attains liberation.

वापीकूपतडागानि देवतायतनानि च

Reservoirs, wells, ponds, and shrines of the deities—

भूमिदानेन ये लोका गोदानेन च कीर्त्तिताः

The worlds obtained by giving land and by giving cows are praised.

अश्वत्थमेकं पिचुमन्दमेकं न्यग्रोधमेकं दश पुष्पजातीः

One peepal, one pichumanda, one banyan, and ten kinds of flowering trees—

यथा सुपुत्रः कुलमुद्धरेद्धि यथाऽतिकृच्छ्रान्नियमप्रयत्नात् 172.

Just as a good son uplifts the family, so, with great effort and discipline—

गोकर्ण उवाच छायाविश्रामपथिकैः पक्षिणां निलयेन च

Gokarna said: By providing shade and rest for travelers, and shelter for birds—

पत्रमूलत्वगाद्यैश्च औषधार्थं तु देहिनाम्

And with their leaves, roots, bark, and so on, they serve as medicine for living beings.

गृहकृत्यानि काष्ठानि क्षुद्रजन्तुगृहास्तथा

Their wood is used for household purposes, and they are homes for small creatures as well.

फलन्ति वत्सरे मध्ये द्विवारं शकुनादयः एवं पुत्रसमारोपा एवं तत्त्वविदो विदुः

In the middle of the year, they bear fruit twice; birds and others enjoy them. Thus, those who know reality understand the planting of sons in this way.

श्रीवराह उवाच हा कष्टं कथमित्येव मुमोह च पपात ह

Sri Varaha said: Alas! How terrible! Saying thus, he became unconscious and fell down.

ताभिराश्वासितो धीमान्ससंज्ञो वारिणोक्षितः

Consoled by them, the wise one regained consciousness, sprinkled with water.

गोकर्ण उवाच मथुरायां ममैवतदुद्यानं देवतागृहम्

Gokarna said: In Mathura, that garden and temple belong to me.

यदि तत्र गतश्चाहं पितृराज्ञोस्तु सन्निधौ

If I go there, may it be in the presence of the king of the ancestors.