Varaha Purana

सा गतिस्त्यजतः प्राणान्मथुरायां न संशयः न तीर्थं मथुराया हि न देवः केशवात्परः

There is no doubt that Mathurā grants that liberation to one who gives up life there; there is no holy place like Mathurā, nor any god greater than Keśava.

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे मथुरामाहात्म्ये अपराधप्रायश्चित्तमाहात्म्यं नाम ऊनाशीत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one hundred and seventy-ninth chapter, named 'The Greatness of Atonement for Offenses,' in the Mathurā-māhātmya of the glorious Varāha Purāṇa.

श्रीवराह उवाच ध्रुवतीर्थे पुरावृत्तं तच्छृणुष्व वसुन्धरे

Śrī Varāha said: Listen, O Earth, to what happened long ago at Dhruva-tīrtha.

अस्यां पुर्यां तु राजासीद्धार्मिकः सत्यविक्रमः

In this city, there was once a king, righteous and steadfast in truth.

तस्य नार्यः शते द्वे तु कुलशीलवयोयुते

He had two hundred wives, all of noble family, character, and age.

नाम्ना चन्द्रप्रभा चैव वीरसूर्वीरपुत्रका

One was named Candraprabhā, heroic, and mother of heroic sons.

तस्याः परिग्रहास्त्वेकोद्दिष्टाचारविहीनकाः

Her companions, however, lacked the conduct prescribed for wives.

स्वदोषैः पतिताः सर्वे नरकं प्रति भामिनि

O beautiful one, all have fallen toward hell by their own faults.

कदाचिदपि तस्याथो भ्रष्टः प्राणिजनो महान्

At some time, indeed, a great being among living creatures fell from there.

कृष्णरूपाश्चंक्रमन्तो मशकाकारसन्निभाः

Taking on dark forms, resembling the shape of mosquitoes, they move about.

तस्मिन्क्षणे न च कृतं व्रतं जप्यं विमोहनात् 180.

In that moment, due to delusion, no vow or recitation was performed.

चतुर्थांशावशेषश्च दिवसः पर्यवर्त्तत

A fourth part of the day remained.

अन्ये पूर्वोत्तराद्देशाद्दक्षिणात्पश्चिमात्तथा

Others came from the eastern and western directions, as well as from the south.

हृष्टास्तुष्टा सुपुष्टांगा गच्छन्तो दिवि सङ्घशः

Joyful, satisfied, and with well-nourished bodies, they go in groups to the heavens.

वस्त्रालङ्कारपुष्टांगा हृष्टा गच्छन्ति संघशः

Adorned with garments and ornaments, with strong bodies and delight, they go in groups.

अन्ये यथागतं यान्ति आयान्ति पुनरेव हि

Others depart as they had come, and indeed, they return again.

समागच्छन्ति गच्छन्तीरयन्तश्चाशिषो मुदा

They gather, depart, and arrive, wishing blessings with joy.

निर्गतोदरसूक्ष्माश्च गच्छन्ति सुविमानिताः

With slender bodies and sunken bellies, they go, honored with fine palanquins.

महोत्सवमिवालक्ष्य विस्मितो मुनिरुत्थितः

Seeing it as a great festival, the sage rose up in amazement.

निर्जनं ध्रुवतीर्थं तु वृतवेलमिवाभवत्

The solitary, constant holy place became as if surrounded by a shore.

वेपथुः कोटराक्षश्च पृष्ठलग्नलघूदरः 180.

Trembling, with hollow eyes, thin and with a sunken back, he was.

न वाक्च श्रूयते तस्य क्षुद्रपक्षिरवो यथा

No speech of his is heard, like the cry of a small bird.

न गच्छसि यथास्थानमागतस्तु निरुद्यमः

You do not go to your proper place, having come here without effort.

ममाद्य नैत्यकं कर्म तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नश्यतेऽनिशम्

Today, my daily act at this holy place is lost, night and day.

त्वां दृष्ट्वेदृक्स्वरूपं च क्रिया मे सा गता त्वयि

Having seen you in this form, my ritual has gone to you.

जन्तुरुवाच ध्रुवतीर्थे च यः श्राद्धं पुनः कुर्यात्तिलोदकम्

The creature said: Whoever performs the śrāddha ritual again at the fixed holy place, offering water mixed with sesame seeds—

तिलतृप्ता दिवं यान्ति पितरस्तेन पुत्रिणः

By that, the ancestors who are satisfied with sesame attain heaven through their offspring.

योनिसंकरदोषेण नरकं समुपाश्रितः

Due to the fault of mixed lineage, one is subjected to hell.

अगतिर्गमने मे स्यात्ते त्रितापैः समागतः

For me, there is no path or movement; I am afflicted by threefold suffering.