Varaha Purana — Chapter 166
VrP 166.1
धरण्युवाच ।। श्रुतानि तु महादेव तीर्थानि विविधानि तु ।। असिकुण्डेति संज्ञेयं तन्मे त्वं कथय प्रभो
dharaṇyuvāca || śrutāni tu mahādeva tīrthāni vividhāni tu || asikuṇḍeti saṃjñeyaṃ tanme tvaṃ kathaya prabho
Dharaṇī said: O Mahādeva, I have heard of the various sacred fords; (but) that one which is named Asikuṇḍa — tell me of it, O lord.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.2
श्रीवराह उवाच ।। सुमतिर्नाम राजासीद्धार्मिको लोकविश्रुतः ।। तीर्थयात्रानिमित्तेन स्वर्गलोकं गतः पुरा
śrīvarāha uvāca || sumatirnāma rājāsīddhārmiko lokaviśrutaḥ || tīrthayātrānimittena svargalokaṃ gataḥ purā
Śrī Varāha said: There was a king named Sumati, righteous and renowned in the world; long ago, by reason of a pilgrimage to the sacred fords, he went to the world of heaven.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.3
गते स्वर्गं तु नृपतौ पुत्रो राज्यं चकार ह ।। विमतिर्नाम नाम्ना च राज्ये पैतामहे स्थितः
gate svargaṃ tu nṛpatau putro rājyaṃ cakāra ha || vimatirnāma nāmnā ca rājye paitāmahe sthitaḥ
When the king had gone to heaven, his son ruled the kingdom; Vimati by name, he was established in his ancestral kingdom.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.4
राज्यं च कुर्वतस्तस्य आगतो नारदस्तदा ।। विष्टरं पाद्यमर्घ्यं च तस्मै दत्तं यथोचितम्
rājyaṃ ca kurvatastasya āgato nāradastadā || viṣṭaraṃ pādyamarghyaṃ ca tasmai dattaṃ yathocitam
And while he was ruling the kingdom, Nārada came there then; a seat, water for the feet, and the guest-offering were given to him as is fitting.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.5
प्रतिगृह्य च तत्सर्वं तमुवाच स नारदः ।। पितुर्ह्यनृणतां गत्वा स पुत्रो धर्मभाग्भवेत्
pratigṛhya ca tatsarvaṃ tamuvāca sa nāradaḥ || piturhyanṛṇatāṃ gatvā sa putro dharmabhāgbhavet
Having accepted all that, Nārada said to him: "Only by attaining freedom from debt to his father does a son become a partaker of dharma."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.6
इत्युक्त्वा नारदस्तत्र तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ।। नारदे तु गते राजा पप्रच्छ स्वात्ममन्त्रिणः
ityuktvā nāradastatra tatraivāntaradhīyata || nārade tu gate rājā papraccha svātmamantriṇaḥ
Having said this, Nārada vanished there on that very spot; and when Nārada had gone, the king questioned his own ministers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.7
तदा किमुक्तमृषिणा नारदेन पितुः कृते ।। आनृण्यमिति यद्वाक्यं मया बुद्धं न किंचन
tadā kimuktamṛṣiṇā nāradena pituḥ kṛte || ānṛṇyamiti yadvākyaṃ mayā buddhaṃ na kiṃcana
"What was it that the sage Nārada said just now about (my) father? That statement, 'freedom from debt' — I understood nothing of it."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.8
मन्त्रिणश्च ततो ज्ञात्वा पितुर्मरणमेव च ।। तीर्थयात्रानिमित्तं च तस्मै राज्ञे न्यवेदयन्
mantriṇaśca tato jñātvā piturmaraṇameva ca || tīrthayātrānimittaṃ ca tasmai rājñe nyavedayan
Then the ministers, knowing of the father's death and of the occasion of his pilgrimage to the sacred fords, reported it to that king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.9
अतएवोक्तमानृण्यं नारदेन पितुस्तव ।। श्रुत्वा वाक्यं तदा राजा तीर्थयात्रां चकार ह
ataevoktamānṛṇyaṃ nāradena pitustava || śrutvā vākyaṃ tadā rājā tīrthayātrāṃ cakāra ha
"It was for this very reason that Nārada spoke of freedom from debt to your father." Hearing that speech, the king then made a pilgrimage to the sacred fords.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.11
सर्वाणि तत्र तीर्थानि तिष्ठन्ति विविधानि च ।। आगते तु नृपे तत्र तीर्थान्यूचुः परस्परम्
sarvāṇi tatra tīrthāni tiṣṭhanti vividhāni ca || āgate tu nṛpe tatra tīrthānyūcuḥ parasparam
All the various sacred fords abide there; and when the king came there, the fords said to one another:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.12
युद्धं विमतिना सार्द्धं स्वयं कर्त्तुं न शक्नुमः ।। कल्पग्रामं तु गच्छामो वराहो यत्र तिष्ठति
yuddhaṃ vimatinā sārddhaṃ svayaṃ karttuṃ na śaknumaḥ || kalpagrāmaṃ tu gacchāmo varāho yatra tiṣṭhati
"We cannot ourselves wage war with Vimati; let us go to Kalpagrāma, where the Boar abides."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.14
यावन्निरीक्षयाम्यग्रं तावत्तिष्ठन्ति सन्निधौ ।। तीर्थान्यूचुः ।। जय विष्णो जयाचिंत्य जय देव जयाच्युत
yāvannirīkṣayāmyagraṃ tāvattiṣṭhanti sannidhau || tīrthānyūcuḥ || jaya viṣṇo jayāciṃtya jaya deva jayācyuta
"As long as I look upon (them) in front, so long do they stand near." The fords said: "Victory to you, Viṣṇu; victory, O inconceivable one; victory, O god; victory, O Acyuta!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 166.15
जय विश्वेश कर्त्तेश जय देव नमोऽस्तु ते ।। श्रीवराह उवाच ।। तीर्थैः स्तुतोऽहं वसुधे वचनं चेदमब्रुवम्
jaya viśveśa kartteśa jaya deva namo'stu te || śrīvarāha uvāca || tīrthaiḥ stuto'haṃ vasudhe vacanaṃ cedamabruvam
"Victory, lord of the universe, lord of the maker; victory, O god; homage be to you!" Śrī Varāha said: Praised thus by the fords, O Earth, I spoke this word:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.16
वरं वृणुत भद्रं वो यद्वो मनसि वर्त्तते ।। तीर्थान्यूचुः ।। वराह यदि देवेश अभयं दातुमर्हसि
varaṃ vṛṇuta bhadraṃ vo yadvo manasi varttate || tīrthānyūcuḥ || varāha yadi deveśa abhayaṃ dātumarhasi
"Choose a boon, good fortune to you — whatever is in your mind." The fords said: "O Varāha, O lord of gods, if you are willing to grant safety —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.17
सुपापिना विमतिना कृतस्त्रासः सुदारुणः ।। तं नियच्छस्व पापिष्ठं यदि पश्यसि नः सुखम्
supāpinā vimatinā kṛtastrāsaḥ sudāruṇaḥ || taṃ niyacchasva pāpiṣṭhaṃ yadi paśyasi naḥ sukham
a most terrible terror has been created by the great sinner Vimati; restrain that most wicked one, if you wish our happiness."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.18
श्रीवराह उवाच ।। हिताय सर्वतीर्थानां हनिष्यामि महारिपुम् ।। तत्र तीर्थनियोगेन आगतो मथुरां पुरीम्
śrīvarāha uvāca || hitāya sarvatīrthānāṃ haniṣyāmi mahāripum || tatra tīrthaniyogena āgato mathurāṃ purīm
Śrī Varāha said: For the welfare of all the sacred fords I shall slay the great enemy. Thereupon, by the fords' commission, I came to the city of Mathurā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.19
तत्रागते तु वसुधे युद्धं कृत्वा तु तेन वै ।। तदासिना तु दिव्येन स राजा बलदर्पितः ।। सूदितो हि मया देवि अस्यग्रं निहितं भुवि
tatrāgate tu vasudhe yuddhaṃ kṛtvā tu tena vai || tadāsinā tu divyena sa rājā baladarpitaḥ || sūdito hi mayā devi asyagraṃ nihitaṃ bhuvi
When I had come there, O Earth, and had made war with him, that king puffed up with strength was slain by me, O goddess, with that divine sword; and the sword's tip was set down in the ground.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.21
तत्राश्चर्यं प्रवक्ष्यामि मनःकर्णसुखावहम् ।। पश्यन्ति मनुजाः सिद्धाः सर्वपापविवर्जिताः
tatrāścaryaṃ pravakṣyāmi manaḥkarṇasukhāvaham || paśyanti manujāḥ siddhāḥ sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ
I shall tell the wonder there, which brings pleasure to mind and ear: men who are perfected and free of all sin behold it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.22
द्वादश्यां च चतुर्दश्यां श्रद्दधाना जितेन्द्रियाः ।। फलानि तस्य पश्यन्ति लभन्ते न सुनिश्चिताः
dvādaśyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ śraddadhānā jitendriyāḥ || phalāni tasya paśyanti labhante na suniścitāḥ
On the twelfth and on the fourteenth (lunar day), those who are full of faith and have conquered their senses behold its fruits; but those who are not firmly resolved do not obtain them.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 166.23
तस्मिन्काले ह्यहं देवि मथुरायां समागतः ।। तत्र तिष्ठाम्यहं भद्रे पश्चिमां दिशमाश्रितः
tasminkāle hyahaṃ devi mathurāyāṃ samāgataḥ || tatra tiṣṭhāmyahaṃ bhadre paścimāṃ diśamāśritaḥ
At that time, O goddess, I came to Mathurā; there I abide, O auspicious one, occupying the western quarter.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.24
तत्र कृत्वा च हैरण्या मूर्त्तयश्च चतुर्विधाः ।। तीर्थे वराहसंज्ञे तु मथुरायां व्यवस्थिताः
tatra kṛtvā ca hairaṇyā mūrttayaśca caturvidhāḥ || tīrthe varāhasaṃjñe tu mathurāyāṃ vyavasthitāḥ
There, being made of gold, the images too, of four kinds, are established at the tīrtha named Varāha in Mathurā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 166.25
सुदृढाः सुदृशः सुभ्रू यः पश्यति स मुच्यते ।। एका वराहसंज्ञा च तथा नारायणस्य च
sudṛḍhāḥ sudṛśaḥ subhrū yaḥ paśyati sa mucyate || ekā varāhasaṃjñā ca tathā nārāyaṇasya ca
(They are) very firm, fair of eye, fair of brow; whoever looks upon (them) is released. One is named Varāha, and likewise (one) of Nārāyaṇa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 166.26
वामनस्य तृतीया वै चतुर्थी राघवस्य च ।। एताश्चतस्रो यः पश्येत्स्नात्वा कुण्डेऽसिसंज्ञिते
vāmanasya tṛtīyā vai caturthī rāghavasya ca || etāścatasro yaḥ paśyetsnātvā kuṇḍe'sisaṃjñite
The third indeed is of Vāmana, and the fourth of Rāghava. Whoever, having bathed in the pool named Asi, should look upon these four —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.27
चतुःसागरपर्यन्ता क्रान्ता तेन धरा ध्रुवम् ।। तीर्थानां माथुराणां च सर्वेषां फलमश्नुते
catuḥsāgaraparyantā krāntā tena dharā dhruvam || tīrthānāṃ māthurāṇāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ phalamaśnute
by him the earth as far as the four oceans has surely been traversed, and he obtains the fruit of all the tīrthas of Mathurā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.28
तत्र सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु असिकुण्डं महत्तरम् ।। या संख्या कथिता पूर्वं तीर्थानां दक्षिणोत्तरे
tatra sarveṣu tīrtheṣu asikuṇḍaṃ mahattaram || yā saṃkhyā kathitā pūrvaṃ tīrthānāṃ dakṣiṇottare
There, among all the tīrthas, the Asi pool is the greatest. That reckoning of the tīrthas which was told before, in the south and the north —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.29
असिकुण्डं समारभ्य तीर्थानुक्रमणिका वरा ।। सुप्तोत्थितोऽपि द्वादश्यामसिकुण्डाप्लुतो नरः
asikuṇḍaṃ samārabhya tīrthānukramaṇikā varā || suptotthito'pi dvādaśyāmasikuṇḍāpluto naraḥ
beginning from the Asi pool, the enumeration of the tīrthas is the best. Even a man who has just risen from sleep, if on the twelfth day he is bathed in the Asi pool —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 166.33
गतानि तत्र तीर्थानि कल्पग्रामं वसुन्धरे ।। तत्र वाराहरूपेण स्थितोऽहं च यदृच्छया
gatāni tatra tīrthāni kalpagrāmaṃ vasundhare || tatra vārāharūpeṇa sthito'haṃ ca yadṛcchayā
Those tīrthas have gone there to Kalpagrāma, O Vasundharā; and there I stood in the form of a boar at will.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 166.166
विमतेर्बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना गच्छामो मथुरां पुरीम् ।। चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्मथुरायां वसामहे असेरग्रेण तूद्धृत्य मृत्तिकां वरवर्णिनि ।। तत्र कुण्डं महद्दिव्यं देवर्षिविधिनिर्मितम् ।। असिकुण्डेति संज्ञा च प्राप्ता तेन वसुन्धरे मूर्त्तीः पश्यति यस्तास्तु ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ।। नास्तीह पुनरावृत्तिर्भवेत्कालविपर्यये
vimaterbuddhirutpannā gacchāmo mathurāṃ purīm || caturo vārṣikānmāsānmathurāyāṃ vasāmahe aseragreṇa tūddhṛtya mṛttikāṃ varavarṇini || tatra kuṇḍaṃ mahaddivyaṃ devarṣividhinirmitam || asikuṇḍeti saṃjñā ca prāptā tena vasundhare mūrttīḥ paśyati yastāstu brahmabhūyāya kalpate || nāstīha punarāvṛttirbhavetkālaviparyaye
A thought arose in the confused-minded (one): "Let us go to the city of Mathurā; for the four months of the rains let us dwell in Mathurā." Having dug up the earth with the tip of a sword, O fair-complexioned one, there (arose) a great divine pool, fashioned by the ordinance of the divine seers; and from that, O Vasundharā, it obtained the name "Asikuṇḍa" (Sword-pool). Whoever looks upon those images becomes fit for union with Brahman; for him there is no return here, even when the ages are reversed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain