अस्य विप्रस्य सम्भाषात्पुण्यसत्कीर्त्तितेन च
By the conversation with this brāhmaṇa and by his praise of virtue—
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सता सम्भाषणं वरम्
Therefore, by every effort, association with the virtuous is best.
तीर्थाभिषेकिपुरुषाद्यथा तेषां दुरात्मनाम्
Just as those who bathe at the holy place, so for those evil-minded ones—
प्राप्तं तीर्थप्रभावस्य श्रवणान्मुक्तिदं फलम्
The fruit of liberation is attained by hearing of the power of the holy place.
यः पठेत्परया भक्त्या शृणुयाद्भक्तितत्परः
Whoever recites this with supreme devotion, or listens to it, intent upon devotion,
पिशाचसंज्ञकं नाम तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्
The holy place named Piśāca, renowned throughout the three worlds,
इति श्रीवराहपुराणे मधु० मा० सर्वतीर्थे यमुनासंगमप्रभावोनाम चतुःसप्तत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred and seventy-fourth chapter, entitled 'The Glory of the Confluence of the Yamunā at All Holy Places,' in the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa, Madhu-mā-sa section.
श्रीवराह उवाच यमुनास्रोतसि स्नात्वा कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः
Śrī Varāha said: Having bathed in the stream of the Yamunā, the sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana,
ध्यात्वा मनसि गङ्गां तां कालिन्दीं पापहारिणीम्
Meditated in his mind upon that Gaṅgā, the Yamunā, destroyer of sins.
सोमवैकुण्ठयोर्मध्ये कृष्णङ्गेति कथ्यते
Between Soma and Vaikuṇṭha, it is called Kṛṣṇaṅga.
तत्राश्रमपदं दिव्यं मुनिप्रवरसेवितम्
There is a divine hermitage, attended by foremost sages.
मुनयो वेदतत्त्वज्ञा ज्ञानिनः संशितव्रताः
Sages, knower of the essence of the Vedas, wise and firm in their vows,
व्यासोऽपनोदयामास नानावाक्यैः सताङ्गतिः
Vyāsa instructed them with various words, leading them to the path of the good.
कालञ्जरे महादेवं तत्र तीर्थपतिं शिवम्
There, on Kālañjara, is the great god, Śiva, lord of the holy places.
तत्र स्थितो द्वादशाब्दव्रती संगविवर्जितः
There, one who observes a twelve-year vow, remaining free from attachments,
गत्वा हिमालयं चासौ बदरीमभितो गतः
Having gone to the Himālayas, he reached the vicinity of Badarī.
त्रिकालदर्शी शुद्धात्मा सिद्धत्वं प्राप्नुयात्प्रभुः 175.
The lord, possessing a pure soul and seeing the three times, attains perfection.
प्रत्यक्षं कृष्णतीर्थे तु पांचाल्यकुलतन्तुना। पांचाल्योऽथ द्विजः कश्चिन्नाम्ना वसुरिति श्रुतः
At the Kṛṣṇa holy place, in the presence of the Pāñcāla lineage, there was a certain brāhmaṇa named Vasu, as is heard.
दुर्भिक्षपीडितोऽत्यन्तं सभार्यो दक्षिणां गतः
Afflicted by severe famine, he went south with his wife.
निवासमकरोत्तत्र ब्राह्मणीं वृत्तिमाश्रितः
He took up residence there, adopting the livelihood of a brāhmaṇa.
ब्राह्मणाय च दत्ता सा धनधान्यसमन्विता
There, a maiden endowed with wealth and grain was given to the brāhmaṇa.
कन्याऽस्थीनि तु संगृह्य मथुरामाजगाम ह
But gathering the girl's bones, he went to Mathurā.
नित्यं स्वर्गे वसति स यस्यास्थि ह्यर्द्धचन्द्रके
He in whose bones there is a crescent shape dwells always in heaven.
तेन सार्थेन सा कन्या मथुरायां जगाम च
With that caravan, that maiden went to Mathurā.
सुरूपा सुकुमाराङ्गी नीलकुंचितमूर्द्धजा
She was beautiful, with delicate limbs and dark, curly hair.
सुश्लिष्टाङ्गुलिपादा तु नखास्ताम्रोज्ज्वलाः शुभाः
Her fingers and toes were well-formed, her nails bright and coppery, auspicious.
क्षामोदरी समकुक्षिः पीनोन्नतपयोधरा 175.
She had a slender waist, even belly, and full, high breasts.
सुनखी स्वक्षिणी सुभ्रूः सुप्रमाणा सुभाषिणी
Her nails were fine, her eyes lovely, her brows beautiful, her form proportionate, and her speech pleasing.
यं यं पश्यति चार्वङ्गी यस्तां चैव प्रपश्यति
Whoever that charming-limbed maiden looked upon, and whoever looked upon her,
एवंविधा तत्र तत्र तीर्थस्नानपरायणा
Such as she, devoted everywhere to bathing at holy places,