Varaha Purana — Chapter 167
VrP 167.1
श्रीवराह उवाच ।। शृणु देवि यथा संज्ञा विश्रान्तेः कीर्तिता पुरा ।। राक्षसेन पुरा प्रोक्ता ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने
śrīvarāha uvāca || śṛṇu devi yathā saṃjñā viśrānteḥ kīrtitā purā || rākṣasena purā proktā brāhmaṇāya mahātmane
Śrī Varāha said: Listen, O goddess, how the name of Viśrānti was proclaimed of old — spoken formerly by a rākṣasa to a great-souled brāhmaṇa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.2
पृथिव्युवाच ।। किमर्थं राक्षसेनोक्ता संज्ञा विश्रान्तिसंज्ञिता ।। किमर्थं पृष्टवान्विप्रः सर्वं कथय मे प्रभो
pṛthivyuvāca || kimarthaṃ rākṣasenoktā saṃjñā viśrāntisaṃjñitā || kimarthaṃ pṛṣṭavānvipraḥ sarvaṃ kathaya me prabho
The Earth said: Why was the name called "Viśrānti" spoken by a rākṣasa? Why did the brāhmaṇa ask? Tell me all of it, O Lord.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.3
श्रीवराह उवाच ।। उज्जयिन्यामभूद्विप्रः सदाचारविवर्जितः ।। न स पूजयते देवान्न स साधून्नमस्यति
śrīvarāha uvāca || ujjayinyāmabhūdvipraḥ sadācāravivarjitaḥ || na sa pūjayate devānna sa sādhūnnamasyati
Śrī Varāha said: In Ujjayinī there was a brāhmaṇa devoid of good conduct. He did not worship the gods, nor did he bow to the good.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.4
पुण्यतीर्थं समासाद्य न च स्नानं करोति सः ।। वेदवेदाङ्गरहितः परदाररतः सदा
puṇyatīrthaṃ samāsādya na ca snānaṃ karoti saḥ || vedavedāṅgarahitaḥ paradārarataḥ sadā
Having reached a holy tīrtha he did not bathe (there); he was without the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas, and always devoted to others' wives.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.5
सन्ध्ये द्वे शयने चैव नित्यं मूढः स तिष्ठति ।। न स देवमनुष्यांश्च पितॄन्पूजयते सदा
sandhye dve śayane caiva nityaṃ mūḍhaḥ sa tiṣṭhati || na sa devamanuṣyāṃśca pitṝnpūjayate sadā
At the two twilights that fool always remained in bed; nor did he ever honour gods, men, and the ancestors.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.6
पापाचाररतो नित्यं पापसङ्गः सुदुर्मतिः ।। गार्हस्थ्यधर्ममाश्रित्य मोहितो वर्त्तते सदा
pāpācārarato nityaṃ pāpasaṅgaḥ sudurmatiḥ || gārhasthyadharmamāśritya mohito varttate sadā
Always devoted to sinful conduct, attached to sin, of very evil mind, he continued always deluded, though he had taken up the householder's duty.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.7
गार्हस्थ्यं सर्वधर्माणां श्रेष्ठमुक्तं स्वयंभुवा ।। यावन्ति जन्तवः सर्वे यथा गोः सर्वतः स्थिताः
gārhasthyaṃ sarvadharmāṇāṃ śreṣṭhamuktaṃ svayaṃbhuvā || yāvanti jantavaḥ sarve yathā goḥ sarvataḥ sthitāḥ
The householder's state has been declared by the Self-existent to be the best of all duties: as many creatures as there are, all stand (dependent on it) as upon a cow on every side.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 167.8
यथा मातरमाश्रित्य सर्वे जीवन्ति जन्तवः ।। एवं गार्हस्थ्यमाश्रित्य सर्वे जीवन्ति जन्तवः
yathā mātaramāśritya sarve jīvanti jantavaḥ || evaṃ gārhasthyamāśritya sarve jīvanti jantavaḥ
Just as all creatures live by depending on the mother, so all creatures live by depending on the householder's state.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.9
ततः स चौर्यं कुर्वाणः पापैः सह नराधमः ।। स च रात्रौ द्रवँल्लोकाँल्लब्धोऽसौ राजरक्षिभिः
tataḥ sa cauryaṃ kurvāṇaḥ pāpaiḥ saha narādhamaḥ || sa ca rātrau drava~llokā~llabdho'sau rājarakṣibhiḥ
Then that lowest of men, committing theft together with (other) sinners, fleeing from people by night, was caught by the king's guards.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.11
अन्धकूपे स पतितो घोररूपोऽवसत्तदा ।। कदाचिदथ कार्येषु महान्सार्थ उपागतः
andhakūpe sa patito ghorarūpo'vasattadā || kadācidatha kāryeṣu mahānsārtha upāgataḥ
Fallen into a dark well, he dwelt there then in a terrible form. Once, on some business, a great caravan came near.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.12
तेषां मध्ये द्विजः कश्चिद्रक्षां कृत्वा वसुन्धरे ।। रक्षोघ्नेन च मन्त्रेण सर्वं सार्थं च रक्षति
teṣāṃ madhye dvijaḥ kaścidrakṣāṃ kṛtvā vasundhare || rakṣoghnena ca mantreṇa sarvaṃ sārthaṃ ca rakṣati
In the midst of them was a certain brāhmaṇa who, O Vasundharā, having made a protective rite, guarded the whole caravan with a demon-slaying mantra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.13
तत्रागत्य च रक्षस्तु ब्राह्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। राक्षस उवाच ।। अहं दास्यामि ते विप्र यत्ते मनसि वर्त्तते
tatrāgatya ca rakṣastu brāhmaṇaṃ vākyamabravīt || rākṣasa uvāca || ahaṃ dāsyāmi te vipra yatte manasi varttate
And the demon, coming there, spoke these words to the brāhmaṇa. The rākṣasa said: I will give you, O brāhmaṇa, whatever is in your mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.14
बहुकालेन संप्राप्तं भोजनं च यथेप्सितम् ।। उत्तिष्ठ विप्र गच्छ त्वमन्यत्र शयनं कुरु
bahukālena saṃprāptaṃ bhojanaṃ ca yathepsitam || uttiṣṭha vipra gaccha tvamanyatra śayanaṃ kuru
"And food obtained as desired after a long time! Get up, brahmin, go elsewhere and make your bed,"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.15
येनाहं भक्षये सार्थं यावत्तृप्तिर्भवेन्मम ।। राक्षसस्य वचः श्रुत्वा विप्रो वचनमब्रवीत्
yenāhaṃ bhakṣaye sārthaṃ yāvattṛptirbhavenmama || rākṣasasya vacaḥ śrutvā vipro vacanamabravīt
"so that I may eat the caravan until I am satisfied." Having heard the rākṣasa's words, the brahmin spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.16
एकः सार्थं प्रयातोऽहं नोत्सृजामि कथंचन ।। तस्माद्राक्षस गच्छ त्वं सार्थं मम परिग्रहम्
ekaḥ sārthaṃ prayāto'haṃ notsṛjāmi kathaṃcana || tasmādrākṣasa gaccha tvaṃ sārthaṃ mama parigraham
"I have set out alone with the caravan; I will not abandon (it) in any way. Therefore, rākṣasa, you go — the caravan is under my protection."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.17
निरीक्षितुं न शक्तोऽसि मम मन्त्रबलेन हि ।। राक्षस उवाच ।। मम भक्ष्ये हते विप्र दोषस्तव भविष्यति
nirīkṣituṃ na śakto'si mama mantrabalena hi || rākṣasa uvāca || mama bhakṣye hate vipra doṣastava bhaviṣyati
"You are not able even to look at (it), because of the power of my spells." The rākṣasa said: "Brahmin, if my food is destroyed, the fault will be yours."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.18
दयां कुरु त्वं विप्रर्षे भोजनं मम दीयताम् ।। ततोऽपृच्छदसौ विप्रो राक्षसं दारुणं प्रति
dayāṃ kuru tvaṃ viprarṣe bhojanaṃ mama dīyatām || tato'pṛcchadasau vipro rākṣasaṃ dāruṇaṃ prati
"Show mercy, O sage among brahmins; let my food be given (to me)." Then that brahmin asked the fearsome rākṣasa:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.19
केन त्वं कर्मदोषेण राक्षसत्वमुपागतः ।। ततश्च कथयामास कथावृत्तं पुरातनम्
kena tvaṃ karmadoṣeṇa rākṣasatvamupāgataḥ || tataśca kathayāmāsa kathāvṛttaṃ purātanam
"By what fault of action have you come to the state of a rākṣasa?" And then he told the ancient course of the story.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.21
तस्य दुःखेन संयुक्तो विप्रोऽसौ वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। विप्र उवाच ।। मित्रत्वे वर्त्तसे रक्षस्तव दास्यामि किं वद
tasya duḥkhena saṃyukto vipro'sau vākyamabravīt || vipra uvāca || mitratve varttase rakṣastava dāsyāmi kiṃ vada
Filled with sorrow at his (tale), that brahmin spoke these words. The brahmin said: "You stand in friendship, rākṣasa; I will give to you — say what.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.22
आत्मना चोपकारेण प्रियं किं करवाणि ते ।। राक्षस उवाच ।। ददासि यदि तद्विप्र यन्मे मनसि वर्त्तते
ātmanā copakāreṇa priyaṃ kiṃ karavāṇi te || rākṣasa uvāca || dadāsi yadi tadvipra yanme manasi varttate
With my own self and with service, what dear thing may I do for you?" The rākṣasa said: "If, brahmin, you will give what is in my mind:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.23
मथुरायां च यत्स्नातं कृतं विश्रान्तिसंज्ञके ।। तच्च स्नानफलं देहि येन मुक्तिं व्रजाम्यहम्
mathurāyāṃ ca yatsnātaṃ kṛtaṃ viśrāntisaṃjñake || tacca snānaphalaṃ dehi yena muktiṃ vrajāmyaham
the bath that was taken by you at Mathurā, at (the tīrtha) named Viśrānti — give me that fruit of the bath, by which I may go to release."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.24
तेन दुःखेन संयुक्तो विप्रो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। विप्र उवाच ।। कथं जानासि रक्षस्त्वं तीर्थं विश्रान्तिसंज्ञकम्
tena duḥkhena saṃyukto vipro vākyamathābravīt || vipra uvāca || kathaṃ jānāsi rakṣastvaṃ tīrthaṃ viśrāntisaṃjñakam
Filled with sorrow at that, the brahmin then spoke these words. The brahmin said: "How do you know, rākṣasa, the tīrtha named Viśrānti,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.25
कथं च संज्ञा तस्याभूत्कथय त्वं हि राक्षस ।। राक्षस उवाच ।। पुरी उज्जयिनी नाम्ना तस्यां वासो हि मे सदा
kathaṃ ca saṃjñā tasyābhūtkathaya tvaṃ hi rākṣasa || rākṣasa uvāca || purī ujjayinī nāmnā tasyāṃ vāso hi me sadā
and how did it get that name? Tell (me), rākṣasa." The rākṣasa said: "There is a city named Ujjayinī; my dwelling was always there.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.26
कस्मिंश्चिदथ कालेन गतोऽहं विष्णुमन्दिरम् ।। तस्याग्रे तिष्ठते विप्रो वाचको वेदपारगः
kasmiṃścidatha kālena gato'haṃ viṣṇumandiram || tasyāgre tiṣṭhate vipro vācako vedapāragaḥ
Then at a certain time I went to a temple of Viṣṇu. In front of it stood a brahmin, a reciter, one who had gone through the Vedas,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.27
विश्रान्तितीर्थमाहात्म्यं श्रावयन्स दिनेदिने ।। तस्य श्रवणमात्रेण मम भक्तिर्हृदिस्थिता
viśrāntitīrthamāhātmyaṃ śrāvayansa dinedine || tasya śravaṇamātreṇa mama bhaktirhṛdisthitā
who day after day caused (people) to hear the greatness of the Viśrānti tīrtha. Merely by hearing that, devotion took its place in my heart.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.28
सा संज्ञा च श्रुता तत्र विश्रान्तेश्च मयाऽनघ ।। वासुदेवो महाबाहुर्जगत्स्वामी जनार्दनः
sā saṃjñā ca śrutā tatra viśrānteśca mayā'nagha || vāsudevo mahābāhurjagatsvāmī janārdanaḥ
And there, O sinless one, that name of Viśrānti was heard by me: Vāsudeva, the mighty-armed, lord of the world, Janārdana,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.29
विश्रामं कुरुते तत्र तेन विश्रान्तिसंज्ञिता ।। राक्षसस्य वचः श्रुत्वा विप्रो वचनमब्रवीत्
viśrāmaṃ kurute tatra tena viśrāntisaṃjñitā || rākṣasasya vacaḥ śrutvā vipro vacanamabravīt
takes his rest (viśrāma) there — therefore it is named Viśrānti." Having heard the rākṣasa's words, the brahmin spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 167.167
पलायमानः स परमन्धकूपेऽपतत्तदा ।। मृतोऽसौ पतितस्तत्र राक्षसत्वमुपागतः अनाचारादि हेतोश्च राक्षसत्वमुपागतः ।। आत्मानं कथयामास विप्राग्रे स यथायथम् एकस्नानस्य हि फलं तव दत्तं च राक्षस ।। विप्रे चेत्युक्तमात्रे च मोक्षावासमवाप सः
palāyamānaḥ sa paramandhakūpe'patattadā || mṛto'sau patitastatra rākṣasatvamupāgataḥ anācārādi hetośca rākṣasatvamupāgataḥ || ātmānaṃ kathayāmāsa viprāgre sa yathāyatham ekasnānasya hi phalaṃ tava dattaṃ ca rākṣasa || vipre cetyuktamātre ca mokṣāvāsamavāpa saḥ
While fleeing, he then fell into an extremely dark well; having fallen there he died and came to the state of a rākṣasa. And through causes such as improper conduct he came to the state of a rākṣasa. He told about himself before the brahmin just as it was. "The fruit of one bath, rākṣasa, is given to you" — and as soon as this was said by the brahmin, he attained the abode of liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain