Varaha Purana

एवं वसन्सुखं तत्र गोकर्णः सह बन्धुभिः

Thus, Gokarna lived happily there with his relatives.

शुकेश्वरं प्रतिष्ठाप्य दिव्यं सत्रं चकार ह

He established Śukeśvara and performed a divine sacrificial session.

शुकसत्रमिति ख्यातं मृतो मुक्तिमवाप सः 173.

That session became known as the Śuka-sacrifice; upon death, he attained liberation.

शुकप्रदाने गोकर्णः फलं स्नानस्य संगमात्

By giving the parrot, Gokarna received the fruit of bathing at the confluence.

शबराय सभार्याय तेन स्वर्गं गतश्च ह

With his wife, he gave it to the Śabara, and thus went to heaven.

एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं मथुरायां महत्फलम्

All this has been told to you, yielding great fruit in Mathura.

गोकर्णस्य तु सन्तानमक्षयं धर्मतोऽव्ययम्

The lineage of Gokarna is inexhaustible and imperishable by righteousness.

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे गोकर्णमाहात्म्ये त्रयस्सप्तत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one hundred seventy-third chapter in the glorification of Gokarna in the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa.

श्रीवराह उवाच संगमस्य प्रभावं हि पापिनामपि मुक्तिदम्

Śrī Varāha said: The power of the confluence grants liberation even to sinners.

अत्रैव श्रूयते पूर्वं ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः

Here, it is heard that formerly a Brahmin, firm in vows,

स्वाध्याययुक्तो होमे च नित्ययुक्तः सः योगवित्

engaged in self-study and sacrifice, always devoted, and skilled in yoga,

एवं कर्माणि कुर्वन्स ब्रह्मलोकजिगीषया

performing such actions with the desire to attain the world of Brahma,

तस्य बुद्धिरियं जाता तीर्थाभिगमनं प्रति

his mind became inclined toward pilgrimage to holy places.

प्रयातो विधिवत्साक्षात् सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति

He set out, as prescribed, directly towards the place where the sun rises.

तथा चोत्तरकोट्यां तु तथा मन्माथुरं च यत्

In the same way, at the northern peak and likewise at Manmathura,

गत्वा सर्वाणि तीर्थानि स्नात्वा पूतो भवाम्यहम्

Having gone to all the sacred waters and bathed, I become purified.

कृतपूजानमस्कारः अध्वानं प्रत्यपद्यत

Having performed worship and salutations, he resumed his journey.

अरण्ये कण्टकवृते निर्जने शब्दवर्जिते 174.

In a forest filled with thorns, deserted and devoid of sound,

ईषदुत्त्रस्तहृदयस्तिष्ठदुन्मील्य चक्षुषी

His heart slightly fearful, he stood there, opening his eyes.

पप्रच्छ मधुरालापः के यूयं रौद्रमूर्त्तयः

He asked, speaking sweetly, 'Who are you, beings of terrible form?'

एकस्थानात्सदा यूयं प्रस्थिताः कुत्र वा सदा क्षुत्पिपासातुरा नित्यं बहुदुःखसमन्विताः

'You always remain in one place—where do you always go? Constantly afflicted by hunger and thirst, always accompanied by much suffering.'

दुर्बुद्ध्या च वृताः सर्वे हीनज्ञाना विचेतसः

'All of you are surrounded by poor understanding, lacking wisdom and discernment.'

नान्तरिक्षं महीं चापि जानीमो दिवसं तथा

'We do not know the sky, the earth, nor even the day.'

अप्रकाममिदं भाति भास्करोदयनं प्रति

'This journey towards the sunrise does not appear desirable.'

शीघ्रगो रोधकश्चैव पंचमो लेखकस्तथा प्रेतानां कर्मजातानां नाम्नां वै सम्भवः कुतः

'The swift one, the restrainer, and the fifth, the scribe—how could there be origin of names for the departed and their deeds?'

किं तत्कारणमेतद्धि यूयं सर्वे सनामकाः अहं स्वादु सदाश्नामि दद्मि पर्युषितं द्विजे

'What is the reason for this, that you are all nameless? I always eat what is fresh and give what is stale to the twice-born.'

एतत्कारणमुद्दिश्य नाम पर्युषितं द्विज

'Because of this reason, O twice-born, the name is 'giver of stale food.'

एतत्कारणमुद्दिश्य परः सूचीमुखस्ततः 174.

'Because of this reason, the next is called 'needle-pointed.'

एतत्कारणमुद्दिश्य शीघ्रगस्तेन सोच्यते

'Because of this reason, the swift one is so called.'