Varaha Purana

रथैर्दिव्यं विमानं तु शिबिकां चैव मानवः

By chariots, a man attains a divine aerial car, and also a palanquin.

अभयस्य प्रदानेन सर्वकामानवाप्नुयात्

By the gift of fearlessness, one obtains all desires.

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे संसारचक्रे पुरुषविलोभनं नाम सप्ताधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus, in the glorious Varaha Purana, the two hundred and seventh chapter named 'The Delusion of Men in the Cycle of Samsara.'

अथ पतिव्रतोपाख्यानवर्णनम् मुहूर्त्तस्य तु कालस्य दिव्याभरणभूषितान्

Now, the narration of the devoted wife: At that moment, adorned with divine ornaments—

ब्राह्मणास्तपसा सिद्धाः सपत्नीकाः सबान्धवाः

Brahmanas, accomplished through austerity, together with their wives and relatives—

विवर्णवदनो राजा प्रभातेजोविवर्जितः

The king, with a pale face, deprived of radiance and splendor—

तं तथा निष्प्रभं दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजं तपोधनः

Seeing him thus, devoid of luster, the ascetic beheld the king of righteousness.

अपि त्वं भ्राजमानस्तु पशोः पतिरिवापरः

Indeed, you shine forth like another lord of cattle.

विनिःश्वसन्यथा नागः कस्मात्त्वं परितप्यसे

Why do you sigh like a serpent and grieve so?

यम उवाच यन्मया हीदृशं दृष्टं श्रूयतां तन्महामुने

Yama said: O great sage, listen to what I have seen.

यायावरास्तु ये विप्रा उञ्छवृत्तिपरायणाः

Those brahmins who wander, devoted to a life of gleaning,

अतिथिप्रियकाश्चैव नित्ययुक्ता जितेन्द्रियाः

Who delight in welcoming guests, ever engaged and self-controlled,

न च मामुपतिष्ठन्ति न चैव वशगा मम 208.

They do not approach me, nor are they under my power.

दिव्यगन्धैर्विलिप्ताङ्गा माल्यभूषितवाससः

Their bodies are anointed with divine fragrances, adorned with garlands and fine garments.

मृत्यो तिष्ठसि कस्यार्थे को वा मृत्युः कथं भवेत्

O Death, for whose sake do you stand here? Who is death, and how does it arise?

लोभासक्तान्सदा हंसि पापिष्ठान्धर्मवर्जितान्

You always slay those attached to greed, the most sinful, devoid of righteousness.

निग्रहानुग्रहौ नापि मया शक्यौ महात्मनाम्

I am not able to punish or favor the great-souled.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र विमानेन महाद्युतिः

Meanwhile, there arrived there a radiant being in a celestial chariot.

महता तूर्यघोषेण सम्प्राप्ता प्रियदर्शना

She arrived, pleasing to behold, with the resounding of great instruments.

साब्रवीत्तु विमानस्था साधयन्ती शुभाङ्गना

Standing in the chariot, that auspicious woman with beautiful limbs spoke.

पतिव्रतोवाच मैवमीर्षां कुरुष्व त्वं ब्राह्मणेषु तपस्विसु अचिन्त्याः सर्वभूतानां ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः

The devoted wife said: Do not harbor jealousy toward brahmins engaged in austerity; brahmins who have mastered the Vedas are beyond comprehension for all beings.

ब्राह्मणाः सततं पूज्या ब्राह्मणाः सर्वदेवताः 208.

Brahmins are always to be revered; brahmins are all the deities.

त्वया शुभाशुभं कर्म नित्यं पूजा मनस्विनाम्

By you, good and bad deeds are always offered to the wise.

प्रयाता गगने दृष्टा विद्युत्सौदामिनी यथा

She was seen departing in the sky, like a flash of lightning.

अब्रवीन्नारदस्तत्र धर्मराजं तथागतम्

There, Nārada spoke to Dharmarāja, who had arrived.

नारद उवाच या त्वया पूजिता राजन् हितमुक्त्वा गता पुनः

Nārada said: O King, she whom you worshipped, who spoke what was beneficial and then departed—

एतदिच्छाम्यहं ज्ञातुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे

I wish to know about this; I am extremely curious.

यम उवाच एषा मया यथा तात पूजितापि च कृत्स्नशः

Yama said: My dear, even though I worshipped her fully—

पुरा कृतयुगे तात निमिर्नाम महायशाः

In ancient times, during the Kṛta Yuga, there was a king named Nimi, renowned for his great fame.