Varaha Purana

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे संसारचक्रे कृतान्तकालमृत्युकिङ्करवर्णनं नाम सप्तनवत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one hundred and ninety-seventh chapter, entitled 'Description of the Attendants of Death in the Wheel of Samsara,' in the glorious Varaha Purana.

अथ संसारचक्रयातनास्वरूपवर्णनम् मामेकमृषभं तत्र दर्शनं च ददौ यमः

Now, the description of the true nature of the torments of the cycle of worldly existence: There, Yama granted me the vision of a single bull.

याथातथ्येन मे पूजा कार्येण विधिनाऽकरोत्

He performed my worship exactly as prescribed, with the proper ritual.

अब्रवीच्च पुनर्हृष्टो ह्यास्यतां च वरासने

Then, delighted, he spoke again: 'Be seated on the seat of honor.'

तस्य वक्त्रं महारौद्रं नित्यमेव भयानकम्

His face was exceedingly fierce, always truly terrifying.

लोहिते तस्य वै नेत्रे जल्पतश्च पुनःपुनः

His eyes were blood-red, and he kept speaking again and again.

ततोऽहं तस्य भावेन भावितश्च पुनःपुनः

Then, because of his demeanor, I was repeatedly filled with emotion.

तस्य प्रीतिकरं सद्यः सर्वदोषविनाशनम्

Immediately, I recited a hymn pleasing to him, which destroys all faults.

कालवृद्धिकरं स्तोत्रं क्षिप्रं तत्र उदीरयन्

That hymn, which brings about longevity and quickly removes the effects of time, I uttered there.

ऋषिपुत्र उवाच पितॄणां परमो देवश्चतुष्पाद नमोऽस्तु ते

The son of the sage said: 'Homage to you, O supreme god of the ancestors, who stands on four legs.'

कालज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च सत्यवादी दृढव्रतः 198.

Knower of time, knower of deeds, speaker of truth, firm in vow.

कर्म कारयिता चैव भूतभव्य भवत्प्रभो

You cause actions to be performed, O lord of past, future, and present beings.

दण्डपाणे विरूपाक्ष पाशहस्त नमोऽस्तु ते

O wielder of the staff, with deformed eyes, holding a noose—homage to you.

कृष्णवर्ण दुराधर्ष तैलरूप नमोऽस्तु ते

Of dark complexion, difficult to approach, in the form of oil—homage to you.

हव्यकव्यवहस्त्वं हि प्रभविष्णो नमोऽस्तु ते

You are the receiver of oblations to gods and ancestors, O powerful one—homage to you.

एकदृग्बहुदृग्भूत्वा काल मृत्यो नमोऽस्तु ते

Becoming one-eyed or many-eyed, O Time, O Death—homage to you.

क्वचिद्बालः क्वचिद्वृद्धः क्वचिद्रौद्रो नमोऽस्तु ते

Sometimes as a child, sometimes as an old man, sometimes as a fierce one—homage to you.

प्रत्यक्ष्यं दृश्यते देव त्वां विना न च सिध्यति

O god, you are seen directly; without you, nothing is accomplished.

जपानां परमं जप्यं त्वत्तश्चान्यो न दृश्यते

Among all recitations, yours is the supreme; no one else is seen apart from you.

पतिव्रतास्तु या नार्यो दुःखितास्तपसि स्थिताः

Those women who are devoted to their husbands, though afflicted by suffering, remain steadfast in austerity.

तस्मात्त्वं सर्वदेवेषु चैको धर्मभृतां वरः 198.

Therefore, among all the gods, you alone are the foremost upholder of righteousness.

वैशम्पायन उवाच परितुष्टस्तदा धर्मो ह्यौद्दालकसुतं प्रति

Vaiśampāyana said: Then Dharma was pleased with the son of Uddālaka.

यम उवाच याथातथ्येन वाक्येन ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते

Yama said: Speak truthfully; what shall I do for you?

वरं वरय भद्रं ते यं वरं काङ्क्षसे द्विज

Choose a boon, O fortunate one, whatever blessing you desire, O twice-born.

ऋषिपुत्र उवाच यदि त्वं वरदो राजन्सर्वभूतहिते रतः

The sage’s son said: If you are indeed a granter of boons, O king, devoted to the welfare of all beings,

द्रष्टुमिच्छाम्यहं देव तव देशं यथातथम्

I wish to see, O god, your realm as it truly is.

सर्वं दर्शय मे राजन्यदि त्वं वरदो मम

Show me everything, O king, if you are indeed the giver of boons to me.

दर्शयस्व महाभाग सर्वलोकस्य चिन्तक

Reveal it, O illustrious one, who cares for all the worlds.

एवमुक्तो महातेजा द्वारस्थं संदिदेश ह

Thus addressed, the mighty one instructed the doorkeeper.