Varaha Purana

मूलक्षेत्रं तु विज्ञेयं रुद्रेणाधिष्ठितं स्वयम्

Know that the root sanctuary is presided over by Rudra himself.

वृतो नागसहस्रैस्तु द्वारि तिष्ठति मे सदा

Surrounded by thousands of serpents, he always stands at my gate.

प्रथमं स नमस्कार्यस्ततोऽहं तदनन्तरम्

He should first be saluted, and then I, immediately after.

वन्दते परया भक्त्या यो मां तत्र नरः सदा

Whoever always worships me there with supreme devotion—

गन्धैर्माल्यैश्च मे मूर्त्तिमभ्यर्च्चयति यो नरः

Whoever honors my form with scents and garlands—

यस्तु दद्यात्प्रदीपं मे पर्वते श्रद्धयान्वितः 215.

And whoever, with faith, offers me a lamp on the mountain—

गीतवादित्रनृत्यैस्तु स्तुतिभिर्जागरेण वा

With song, instruments, dance, hymns, or by keeping vigil—

दध्ना क्षीरेण मधुना सर्पिषा सलिलेन वा

With curd, milk, honey, ghee, or even water—

यः श्राद्धे भोजनं दद्याद्विप्रेभ्यः श्रद्धयान्वितः

Whoever, with faith, gives food to Brāhmaṇas at a śrāddha—

व्रतोपवासैर्होमैर्वा नैवेद्यैश्चारुभिस्तथा

Through vows, fasts, sacrifices, offerings, or with fine foods—

षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि चोषित्वा दिवि ते ततः

After dwelling in heaven for six thousand years, then—

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रः स्त्री वापि सङ्गताः

Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, Śūdra, or even a woman, if gathered—

मत्पार्षदास्ते जायन्ते सततं सहिताः सुरैः शैलेश्वरात्परं क्षेत्रं न क्वचिद्भुवि विद्यते

They are born as my attendants, always united with the gods; there is no field on earth greater than the lord of the mountain.

ब्रह्महा गुरुहा गोघ्नः स्पृष्टो वै सर्वपातकैः

A slayer of a Brāhmaṇa, a killer of a teacher, a cow-killer, one tainted by all sins—

विविधान्यत्र तीर्थानि सन्ति पुण्यानि देवताः

There are various sacred places here, holy and filled with deities.

क्रोशं क्रोशं सुरै रूपं तच्च संहृत्य निर्मितम् 215.

At each krośa, the form created by the gods is withdrawn.

तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्दान्तः सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः

There, having bathed, one who is pure, self-controlled, truthful, and master of the senses—

अनाशकं व्रजेद्यस्तु दक्षिणेन महात्मनः

—who proceeds southward without eating, that great-souled one—

भृगुप्रपतनं कृत्वा कामक्रोधविवर्जितः

—having performed the rite of falling like Bhṛgu, free from desire and anger—

भृगुमूले परं तीर्थं ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं स्वयम्

—at the root of Bhṛgu is the supreme sacred ford, established by Brahmā himself.

संवत्सरं तु यस्तत्र स्नास्यंस्तु नियतेन्द्रियः

Whoever bathes there for a year, with the senses restrained—

तत्र गोरक्षकं नाम गोवृषः पदविक्षतम्

—there is the place called Gorakṣaka, marked by the footprints of a bull.

गौर्यास्तु शिखरं तत्र गच्छेत्सिद्धनिषेवितम्

There, one should go to the peak of Gaurī, frequented by accomplished beings.

लोकमाता भगवती लोकरक्षार्थमुद्यता

The blessed goddess, mother of the world, stands ready for the protection of all beings.

त्यजते पतितुं तस्या अधस्ताद्वाग्मतीतटे

She is about to descend there, below, at the bank of the Vagmatī river.

स्तनकुण्डे उमायास्तु यः स्नायात्खलु मानवः 215.

Whoever, indeed, bathes in Umā’s breast-shaped pool—

तीर्थं पंचनदं प्राप्य पुण्यं ब्रह्मर्षिसेवितम्

—having reached the sacred Pañcanada, honored by the great seers—

नकुलोहेन मतिमान्स्नापयेत्प्रयतात्मवान्

—should bathe there with a pure mind, using Nakulohena.

तस्यैवोत्तरतस्तीर्थमपरं सिद्धसेवितम्

To the north of that is another sacred ford, frequented by accomplished beings.