163 - The Greatness of Kapilavaräha

Varäha said:

1. I shall now tell you about another thing, namely what occurred in days of yore in Vaikunthatirtha.

2. The city of Mithilä was ruled by king Janaka. The people of Mithilä, Bráhmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaišhyas and Shüdras, started on a pilgrimage.

3. They bathed in the tirtha Saukara and then reached Mathurä.

4. Great devotion to Mathurä arose in them and they all stood assembled in Vaikunthatirtha.

5. A Brahmin among them had clear signs of the sin of killing a Brahmin, because blood was always oozing from his hand.

6. This was clearly perceptible and it never stopped although he had gone to many tirthas.

7. But he had not gone to Vaikunthatirtha before. And now that he went there, this oozing of blood ceased and all were surprised at this.

8. The Lord then appeared in the form of a Brahmin and asked them what had happened.

9. They told him about the sinful Brahmin and what had happened then.

10. The Lord said: “As the result of his bath in the Vaikunthatitrtha the sin of killing a Brahmin has left him. So you need not be surprised at this. It is all due to the power of this tirtha.”

11. The Lord then disappeared there. O Earth, such is the greatness of this tirtha.

12. HE who bathes in Vaikunthatirtha gets removed of his sins and he goes to the world of Vishnu.

13. I shall tell you about another, namely Gandharvakunda in the holy Asikunda.

14. He who bathes there, delights in the company of Gandharvas and he who gives up life there, reaches my world.

15. The Mathurä region extends over twenty yojanas and is like a lotus with Lord Kešhava in its central part.

16. Those who die in this central part get liberation and become gods.

17. Those who see Lord Kešhava on the western side will not get any sorrow.

18. Those who see the Lord on the northern side never fall into the cycle of births and deaths again.

19. Those who see the Lord in Višhränti on the eastern side certainly gain liberation.

20. On the Southern side there is a divine image of mine.

21. It is long and beautiful and he who sees it delights himself in the company of Brahma.

22. In the Krutayuga there was a king named Mandhätä. I was propitiated by him with a devout mind.

23. Pleased at this, I gave him this image and it was worshipped by him for his own salvation.

24. It was at the time of (Šhatrughna’s) killing Lavana at Mathurä, it was installed there. It is holy, divine and resplendent.

25. There was a great sage by name Kapila who was devoted to me.

26. He made by his mind an image of (Vishnu in the form of) Varäha and was worshipping it every day.

27. The sage Kapila was propitiated by Indra, and pleased at this, he gave him this divine idol.

28. From then onwards, Indra was worshipping it with devotion and delight. As a result, he attained matchless divine knowledge.

29. Once the demon Rävana went to the world of Indra to conquer heaven by his might.

30. Severe fighting then followed between Rävana and Indra.

31. The gods together with Indra were defeated by Rävana and he then entered Indra’s abode.

32. In that splendid house decorated with numerous jewels, he saw the idol of Kapilavaräha and prostrated before it.

33. But being deluded by it, he began to pray.

34. “O Lord Mädhava, Dämodara, Hrushikešha, the holder of earth, the destroyer be pleased to save me;

35. I bow to-you, the of Vedas. I bow to you Väsudeva. I bow to you in your form as the tortoise. I bow to you Näräyana.

36. I am not able to see you or ask anything, O abode of all virtues, the destroyer of Madhu and Kaitabha.

37. I bow to you, the Lord of Lords, the refuge of all devotees. I bow to you in all devotion. Be pleased with me.”

38. At this prayer of Rävana, the Lord of the worlds adopted a gentle form.

39. Rävana then went near and attempted to raise the idol in order to put it in his Pushpakavimana, but he could not.

40. Surprised at this, he exclaimed: “O Lord, I was able to raise mount Kailäsa together with Shiva. You are here in such a small form, still I am unable to raise it.

41. I bow to you, god of gods, be pleased to enable me to take you to the great city of Lañkä”.

Varäha said:

42. Kapila(varäha) then told him that being a Rakshasa he was not a Vaishnava and he could not have the sort of devotion (necessary to achieve his aim).

43. Rävana said: “O great being, unflinching devotion has dawned on me by your sight. I bow to you. I wish to take you (to my city)”.

44. The Lord then assumed a little form and so he was able to lift him and place him in his Pushpakavimäna.

45. He installed me at Lañkä and I stood there for a long time in his house worshipped by him.

46. Räma, the Lord of Ayodhyä, then came there and killed Rävana in battle, and installed his brother Vibhishana on the throne of Lañkä.

47. Vibhishana then offered everything to Räma.

Rãma said:

48. “O Räkshasa Vibhishana, I shall not have anything to do with all this. You may give that idol alone which was taken here from the city of Indra.

49. If you give me that, I shall take it to Ayodhyä and worship it every day”.

50. HE then gave Räma the Kapila (Varäha) and Räma carried it in the Pushpaka.

51. installed it at Ayodhyà and worshipped it there for hundred and ten years.

52. He then sent Šhatrughna for killing Lavana. Šhatrughna bowed to him and started with an army with all its four divisions.

53. He then killed the terrific demon Lavana and entered the city of Mathurä.

54. He settled there twenty-six thousand Vedic Brahmins who were all equal to me.

55. (Even) a non-Rugvedic Brahmin of Mathurä is equal to one who has mastered the four Vedas. To feed one of them is equivalent to feeding a crore of other Brahmins.

56. Thus have I told you about Lavana’s killing (by Shatrughna).

57. When Räma came to know of the success of Shatrughna he asked him to seek of him any boon he wished.

58. Hearing this, Shatrughna said, “O Lord, if you are pleased with me and consider me worthy of receiving a boon, give me this (idol of Kapilaváräha)”.

59. Hearing these words of Shatrughna, Räma, said, “Take this (idol of) god in the form of Varäha.

60. That whole region is very much blessed, the city of Mathurä in particular. The people of Mathurä who worship this Kapila (Varäha) are highly blessed.

61. All sins disappear when he is seen, touched, contemplated upon, bathed or anointed.

62. When he is bathed or worshipped every day, he not only removes our sins but grants moksha.”

63. O Earth, so saying Räma gave him the idol.

64. Receiving it, Šhatrughna went to Mathurä.

65. He installed it in the middle of the city and worshipped it. In this way the Lord permanently came to be there.

66. By seeing this, the same result is obtained as by offering   in Gayä during Pushkara in the month of Jyeshtha.

67. The same result is also obtained in Višhränti, Govinda, Hari, Kešhava and Dirghavishnu.

68. My lustre is at Višhränti in the morning, Dirghavishnu at noon and Kešhava in the evening.

69. This knowledge was kept a secret for a long time. Since you are my devotee and disciple, I imparted this to you.