Vayu Purana

शप्ता हि सा पुरी पूर्व्वं निकुम्भेन महात्मना। शून्या वर्षसहस्रं वै भवित्रीति पुनः पुनः ।। ३०.

Indeed, that city had previously been cursed by the great Nikumbha, to remain empty for a thousand years, again and again.

तस्यान्तु शप्तमात्रायां दिवोदासः प्रजेश्वरः। विषयान्ते पुरीं रम्यां गोमत्यां सन्न्यवेशयत् ।। ३०.

But as soon as that curse took effect, Divodāsa, lord of the people, established a beautiful city at the edge of his realm, on the Gomati.

ऋष ऊचुः।। वाराणसीं किमर्थन्तां निकुम्भः शप्तवान् पुरा। निकुम्भश्चापि धर्म्मात्मा सिद्धक्षेत्रं शशाप यः ।। ३०.

The sages said: For what reason did Nikumbha formerly curse Vārāṇasī? And why did that righteous Nikumbha curse the sacred field?

सूत उवाच।। दिवोदासस्तु राजर्षिर्नगरीं प्राप्य पार्थिवः। वसते स महातेजाः स्फीतायां वै नराधिपः ।। ३०.

Sūta said: King Divodāsa, the royal sage, having obtained the city, dwelt there, that mighty ruler, in the flourishing city.

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु कृतदारो महेश्वरः। देव्याः स प्रियकामस्तु वसानश्च सुरान्तिके ।। ३०.

At that very time, Maheśvara, having taken a wife, who was dear to him, was living with the goddess among the gods.

देवाज्ञया पारिषदा विश्वरूपास्तपोधनाः। पूर्वोक्तै रूपविशेषस्तोषयन्ति महेश्वरीम् ।। ३०.

By the command of the gods, the attendants, rich in ascetic power and of manifold forms as previously described, pleased the great goddess.

हृष्यति तैर्महादेवो मेना नैव तु हृष्यति। जुगुप्सते सा नित्यञ्च देवं देवीं तथैव च ।। ३०.

Mahādeva rejoiced because of them, but Menā did not rejoice; she constantly found fault with both the god and the goddess.

मम पार्श्वे त्वनाचारस्तव भर्त्ता महेश्वरः। दरिद्रः सर्व एवेह अक्लिष्टं लडतेऽनघे ।। ३०.

"Your husband Maheśvara is improper at my side; he is entirely poor here, yet he lives untroubled, O sinless one."

मात्रा तथोक्ता वचसा स्त्रीस्वबावान्नचाक्षमत्। स्मितं कृत्वा तु वरदा हरपार्श्वमथागमत् ।। ३०.

Thus addressed by her mother, she, by her feminine nature, could not bear it; but smiling, the boon-giver went to Hara's side.

विषण्णवदना देवी महादेवमभाषत। नेह वत्स्याम्यहं देव नय मां स्वं निवेशनम् ।। ३०.

The goddess, her face downcast, spoke to Mahādeva: "O god, I will not stay here; take me to your own abode."

तथोक्तस्तु महादेवः सर्वांल्लोकानवेक्ष्य ह। वासार्थं रोचयामास पृथिव्यां तु द्विजोत्तमाः। वाराणसीं महातेजाः सिद्धक्षेत्रं महेश्वरः ।। ३०.

Thus addressed, Mahādeva, after surveying all the worlds for a dwelling, chose on earth, O best of twice-born, the illustrious Vārāṇasī, the sacred field.

दिवो दासेन तां ज्ञात्वा निविष्टान्नगरीं भवः। पार्श्वास्थं स समाहूय गणेशं क्षेमकं ब्रवीत् ।। ३०.

Knowing that Divodāsa had settled in that city, Bhava summoned Gaṇeśa, who stood by his side, and spoke to the protector.

गणेश्वर पुरीङ्गत्वा सून्यां वाराणसीं कुरु। मृदुना चाब्युपायेन अतिवीर्यः स पार्थिवः ।। ३०.

"O lord of the gaṇas, go to the city and make Vārāṇasī empty; use gentle means, for that king is exceedingly powerful."

ततो गत्वा निकुम्भस्तु पुरीं वाराणसीं पुरा । स्वप्ने सन्दर्शयामास मङ्कनं नाम नापितम् ।। ३०.

Then Nikumbha went to the city of Vārāṇasī and, in a dream, appeared to a barber named Maṅkana.

श्रेयस्तेऽहं करिष्यामि स्थानं मे रोचयानघ। मद्रूपां प्रतिमां कृत्वा नगर्य्यन्ते निवेशय ।। ३०.

"I will bring you prosperity; choose a place for me, O sinless one. Make an image in my likeness and install it in the city."

तथा स्वप्ने यथा दृष्टं सर्वं कारितवान् द्विजाः। नगरीद्वार्यनुज्ञाप्य राजानन्तु यथाविधि ।। ३०.

Just as he had seen in the dream, he caused everything to be done, O twice-born; having obtained the king's permission according to rule.

पूजा तु महती चैव नित्यमेव प्रयुज्यते। गन्धैर्धूपैश्च माल्यैश्च प्रेक्षणीयैस्तथैव च ।। ३०.

A great worship is performed there constantly, with perfumes, incense, garlands, and other beautiful offerings.

अन्नप्रदानयुक्तैश्च अत्यद्भुतमिवाभवत्। एवं सम्पूज्यते तत्र नित्यमेव गणेश्वरः ।। ३०.

With offerings of food, it became as if exceedingly wondrous; thus, Lord of the Hosts is worshipped there always.

ततो वरसहस्राणि नगराणां प्रयच्छति । पुत्रान् हिरण्यमायूंषि सर्व्वकामांस्तथैव च ।। ३०.

Then he grants thousands of boons to cities: sons, gold, longevity, and all desired things likewise.

राज्ञस्तु महिषी श्रेष्ठा सुयशा नाम विश्रुता। पुत्रार्थमागता साध्वी राज्ञा देवी प्रचोदिता ।। ३०.

The king’s chief queen, renowned by the name Suyaśā, came for the sake of a son, prompted by the king, the noble lady.

पूजान्तु विपुलां कृत्वा देवी पुत्रानयाचत। पुनः पुनरथागम्य बहुशः पुत्रकारणात् ।। ३०.

Having performed a great worship, the queen requested sons, and repeatedly returned many times for the sake of sons.

न प्रयच्छति पुत्रांस्तु निकुम्भः कारणेन तु। राजा यदि तत् क्रुध्येत ततः किञ्चित् प्रवर्त्तते ।। ३०.

Nikumbha does not grant sons, for a reason; if the king becomes angry about this, then something occurs.

अथ दीर्घेण कालेन क्रोधो राजानमाविशत्। भूतं त्विदं महाद्वारि नगराणां प्रयच्छति ।। ३०.

Then, after a long time, anger entered the king; indeed, he grants a being at the great gate of the cities.

प्रीत्या वरांश्च शतशो न किञ्चित्तु प्रवर्त्तते। मामकैः पूज्यते नित्यं नगर्यां मम चैव तु ।। ३०.

Out of affection, he gives boons by the hundreds, but nothing else happens; he is worshipped always by my people in my city as well.

तत्रार्च्चितश्च बहुशो देव्या मे तत्र कारणात् । न ददाति च पुत्रं मे कृतघ्नो बहुभोजनः ।। ३०.

There, he was worshipped many times by my queen for that reason; yet he does not give me a son, the ungrateful one who eats much food.

अतो नार्हति पूजान्तु मत्सकाशात् कथञ्चन। तस्मात्तु नाशयिष्यामि तस्य स्थानं दुरात्मनः ।। ३०.

Therefore, he does not deserve worship from me in any way; thus, I will destroy the place of that wicked one.

एवं तु सविनिश्चित्य दुरात्मा राज किल्बिषी। स्थानं गणपतेस्तस्य नाशयामास दुर्मतिः ।। ३०.

Thus, having firmly resolved, the wicked king, sinful in mind, destroyed the abode of Gaṇapati with evil intent.

भग्नमायतनं दृष्ट्वा राजानमगमत् प्रभुः। यस्मादृतेऽपराधं मे त्वया स्थानं विना शितम् ।। ३०.

Seeing the temple broken, the Lord approached the king: 'Except for an offense against me, you have destroyed the place without cause.'

अकस्मात् तु पुरी शून्या भवित्री ते नराधिप। ततस्तेन तु शापेन शून्या वाराणसी तथा ।। ३०.

'Suddenly, your city will become empty, O ruler of men; thus, by that curse, Vārāṇasī also became empty.'