Varaha Purana

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.'

समारुह्योद्विग्नमना रोधकस्तेन चोच्यते

'Mounting up with an anxious mind, the restrainer is so called for that reason.'

अस्माकमपि पापिष्ठो लेखकस्तेन नाम वै

'Among us, the most sinful is the scribe, and for that reason he is so named.'

शीघ्रगः पङ्गुतां प्राप्तः परं सूचीमुखस्ततः

The swift one becomes lame, then extremely needle-faced.

बृहद्वृषणशुष्काङ्गः पापादेव प्रजायते

With large testicles and dried limbs, an evil one is born.

यदि ते श्रवणे श्रद्धा पृच्छ चान्यद्यदिच्छसि ये जीवा भुवि तिष्ठन्ति सर्व आहारजीविनः

If you have faith in hearing, ask whatever else you desire; all living beings on earth subsist on food.

युष्माकमपि चाहारं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः शृणु चाहारमस्माकं सर्वभूतदयापर

I wish to hear, in truth, about your food as well; listen to ours, O one devoted to compassion for all creatures.

यच्छ्रुत्वा निन्दसे नित्यं भूयो भूयश्च नित्यशः

That which, upon hearing, you constantly revile again and again, always.

गृहाणि त्यक्तशौचानि प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्र वै

In houses abandoned by purity, the departed ones indeed partake there.

गुरवो नैव पूज्यन्ते स्त्रीजितानि गृहाणि च 174.

Teachers are not honored, nor are houses conquered by women.

नित्यं च कलहो यत्र प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्र वै निन्दितानां द्विजातीनां जुगुप्सितकुलोद्भवे

Where there is constant quarrel, the departed ones partake there, among the reviled twice-born and those born in contemptible families.