Varāha Mahā Purana
37 - The Story of Dirghabahu
Earth said:
1. O great lord, be pleased to tell me how you are to be worshipped by men and women with devotion.
Varaha said:
2. I am to be attained by meditation, not by money or incantation. Still, I shall tell you about the physical restraints to be observed by devotees.
3. Listen to the observances to be adopted by a person who is dedicated to me in mind, action and word.
4. The mental observances are non-violence, truthfulness, faith and celibacy.
5. The bodily observances are taking food only once a day and fasting at night.
6. The oral observances are learning the Veda, reciting the glories of Vishnu speaking truth and not speaking ill of others.
7. Here a story is known: There was a highly spiritual sage named Aruni, son of Brahma.
8-9. He went to the forest on the bank of river Devika to perform severe penance. Once he went to the river for a bath.
10. While performing japa after bath, he saw a fierce hunter with (bow and) arrow in hand rushing towards him.
11. He came there to kill the sage and snatch away the bark garment he was wearing.
12. The sage became extremely perturbed understanding his criminal intention, but remained there meditating on Narayana.
13. Seeing the sage whose mind was thus immersed in meditation on Vishnu, the hunter became afraid, and dropping down his bow and arrow, said:
The hunter said:
14. “O Brahmin, I came here with the intention of killing you. But now on seeing you, that intention has left me.
15. I have been killing thousands of Brahmins and even more good women.
16. Will any good befall me after killing so many Brahmins? I now wish to perform penance near you. Be pleased to give me the necessary advice”.
17. But the sage did not say anything in reply, thinking that the man who is guilty of killing Brahmins is a high sinner.
18. Still, desirous of acquiring religious merit, the hunter remained there. The sage took his bath and resorted to the foot of the tree.
19. After some time, a famished tiger came to the river, and attempted to kill the serene sage.
20. The sage plunged himself into the water, but the tiger was trying to drag him out. The hunter then quickly killed it.
21. A person came out of the tiger’s body then. Hearing the noise (of the hunter killing the tiger) from within the water, the sage exclaimed ‘Bow to Narayana’.
22. That mantra was heard by the tiger which was about to die, and it then became transformed into a man.
23. He said, “O Brahmin, being freed from my sins and ills, I now go to that perpetual abode of Vishnu”.
24. Told thus, the sage asked him who he was. he then told him about his former life.
25-26. “I was (a king) known as Dirghabahu. I was well versed in Dharma and had mastered the Vedas and known about everything good and bad. I had nothing to do with the Brahmins and was asking “what is this thing called the Brahmin”
27. At this attitude of mine, the Brahmins became angry and they cursed me to become a tiger.
28. They also said that because of my insult to the Brahmins I would lose my memory but would hear the name of the lord at the time of my death.
29. The curse pronounced by the great Vaidik Brahmins took effect on me.
30. I then prostrated before them and sought their pardon. They then said:
31. “You should take food only once in six days, and then whatever comes near you will be your food.
32. When you will be about to die, being hit by an arrow, you will hear a Brahmin uttering ‘Bow to Narayana’. Then you will attain liberation.”
33. Although through another’s mouth, I have now heard the name of Vishnu and the god is now before me although an offender of Brahmins (and thus a sinner).
34. He who adores Brahmins and himself utters the name of Vishnu at the time of death, becomes freed from all sins.
35. With outstretched arms I proclaim again and again the truth that the Brahmins are the gods moving in this earth and the lord is the Supreme Man.”
36. So saying the king went to heaven, being freed of sins. The sage, who was thus saved, spoke to the hunter.
The sage said:
37. Since I have been saved by you from the tiger, I am pleased with you. I shall give you the boon you choose.
The hunter said:
38. The fact that you speak to me is itself a boon for me. What else have I to seek? Please advise me.
The sage said:
39. Formerly, you requested me to instruct you to perform penance. Then you were full of sins and fierce in appearance.
40-41. Now all your sins have disappeared by your holy bath in this river Devika, by my sight and by hearing the name of Vishnu, and you have become pure in body.
42. So now you can ask me a boon. You may perform penance as long as you like.
The hunter said:
43. The one boon that I wish to seek is to know how Vishnu, about whom you said, could be attained by mortals.
The sage said:
44. The man who with intense devotion, performs vows in respect of lord Vishnu, doubtless attains him.
45. Knowing this, perform austerities. Do not take common food (be contented with whatever food that is available in the forest). Never utter falsehood.
46. This is the instruction and the boon to you. You may remain here practising penance as long as you like.
Varaha said:
47. The sage thus gave the boon to him who was desirous of securing salvation, and went away.
Summary of chapter 37 of the Varāha Mahā Purana is as follows:
To fulfill the cosmic decree for the destruction of the demon Tārakāsura, the radiant divine energy of Parameśvara Śiva is deposited into Agni and transferred to the holy river Gaṅgā, who carries the effulgent seed to a sacred forest of Śara reeds. Six divine babies manifest from the cosmic light and are nurtured with motherly affection by the six Kṛttikā maidens, who feed them with celestial milk. Mother Parvatī and Parameśvara Śiva arrive at the sacred reed forest, and when Parvatī lovingly embraces the six infants, their frames merge into a single six-faced, twelve-armed divine child named Kārttikeya Skanda, who is crowned as the supreme commander of the celestial armies.