Vayu Purana

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.'

शप्तां पुरीं निकुम्भस्तु महादेवमथानयत्। शून्यां पुरीं महादेवो निर्म्ममे परमात्मना ।। ३०.

Nikumbha, having cursed the city, then led it to Mahādeva; Mahādeva, the Supreme Self, made the city empty.

तुल्यां देवविभूत्यास्तु देव्याश्चैव महात्मनः। रमते तत्र वै देवी रममाणे महेश्वरः ।। ३०.

Equal in divine splendor to the great-souled goddess, the goddess delights there, as does Maheśvara when she delights.

न रतिं तत्र वै देवी लभते गृहविस्मयात्। देव्याः क्रीडार्थमीशानो देवो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। ३०.

The goddess does not find pleasure there, due to the wonder of the house; for the sake of the goddess’s play, the Lord then spoke.

नाहं वेश्म विमोक्ष्यामि अविमुक्तं हि मे गृहम्। प्रहस्यैनामथोवाच अविमुक्तं हि मे गृहम् ।। ३०.

'I will not leave the house, for Avimukta is my home.' Smiling, he said to her, 'Avimukta is indeed my home.'

नाहं देवि गमिष्यामि गच्छस्वेह रमाम्यहम्। तस्मात्तदविमुक्तं हि प्रोक्तं देवेन वै स्वयम् ।। ३०.

'I will not go, O goddess; you may go, I will remain here and delight.' Therefore, that is called Avimukta, as declared by the Lord himself.

एवं वाराणसी शप्ता अविमुक्तं च कीर्त्तितम्। यस्मिन् वसति वै देवः सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः। युगेषु त्रिषु धर्मात्मा सह देव्या महेश्वरः ।। ३०.

Thus Vārāṇasī was cursed, and Avimukta was proclaimed; where the god dwells, honored by all gods, in the three ages, the righteous Maheśvara with the goddess.

अन्तर्द्धानं कलौ याति तत्पुरन्तु महात्मनः। अन्तर्हिते पुरे तस्मिन् पुरी सा वसते पुनः ।। ३०.

In the Kali age, that city of the great-souled one becomes invisible; when that city disappears, it again dwells elsewhere.

एवं वाराणसी शप्ता निवेशं पुनरागता। भद्रश्रेण्यस्य पुत्राणां शतमुत्तमधन्विनाम् ।। ३०.

Thus Varanasi, having been cursed, returned to its settlement; a hundred excellent archers, the sons of Bhadrasrenya, came there.

हत्वा निवेशयामास दिवोदासो नराधिपः। भद्रश्रेण्यस्य राज्यन्तु हृतन्तेन बलीयसा ।। ३०.

Having slain them, King Divodasa established his settlement; thus he seized the kingdom of Bhadrasrenya by force.

भद्रश्रेण्यस्य पुत्रस्तु दुर्दमो नाम नामतः। दिवोदासेन बालेति घृणया स विवर्जितः ।। ३०.

Bhadrasrenya's son was named Durdama; because he was a child, Divodasa, out of compassion, spared him.