Bhagavata Purana

द्विदलं मधु तैलं च गरिष्ठान्नं तथैव च । भावदुष्टं पर्युषितं जह्यात् नित्यं कथाव्रती

One observing the vow should always avoid split pulses, honey, oil, heavy foods, and anything impure or stale.

कामं क्रोधं मदं मानं मत्सरं लोभमेव च । दम्भ मोहं तथा द्वेषं दूरयेच्च कथाव्रती

One observing the vow should keep far away desire, anger, intoxication, pride, envy, greed, hypocrisy, delusion, and hatred.

वेदवैष्णवविप्राणां गुरुगोव्रतिनां तथा । स्त्रीराजमहतां निन्दां वर्जयेत् यः कथाव्रती

One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should avoid speaking ill of Vedic scholars, Vaiṣṇavas, brāhmaṇas, teachers, cows, those observing vows, women, kings, and great souls.

रजस्वला अन्त्यज म्लेच्छ पतित व्रात्यकैस्तथा । द्विजद्विड् वेदबाह्यैश्च न वदेत् यः कथाव्रती

One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should not converse with women in their period, outcastes, foreigners, the fallen, those outside the Vedic fold, haters of twice-born, or those opposed to the Vedas.

सत्यं शौचं दयां मौनं आर्जवं विनयं तथा । उदारमानसं तद्वत् एवं कुर्यात् कथाव्रती

One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should practice truthfulness, purity, compassion, silence, simplicity, humility, and generosity of mind.

दरिद्रश्च क्षयी रोगी निर्भाग्यः पापकर्मवान् । अनपत्यो मोक्षकामः श्रुणुयाच्च कथामिमाम्

The poor, the wasting, the sick, the unfortunate, those engaged in sinful acts, the childless, and those desiring liberation should listen to this story.

अपुष्पा काकवन्ध्या च वन्ध्या या च मृतार्भका । स्रवत् गर्भा च या नारी तया श्राव्या प्रयत्‍नतः

A woman who does not conceive, whose children die, who is barren, who has lost her child, or who suffers miscarriage should carefully hear this story.

एतेषु विधिना श्रावे तदक्षयतरं भवेत् । अत्युत्तमा कथा दिव्या कोटियज्ञफलप्रदा

When this story is heard according to the prescribed method by such persons, it yields inexhaustible merit; this divine, most excellent story bestows the fruit of millions of sacrifices.

एवं कृत्वा व्रतविधिं उद्यापनं अथाचरेत् । जन्माष्टमी व्रतमिव कर्तव्यं फलकांक्षिभिः

Having thus performed the vow, one should then complete its conclusion, just as those desiring results perform the Janmāṣṭamī vow.

अकिंचनेषु भक्तेषु प्रायो नोद्यापनाग्रहः । श्रवणेनैव पूतास्ते निष्कामा वैष्णवा यतः

For those who are destitute but devoted, there is generally no insistence on the concluding rite; for they are purified simply by hearing, being desireless Vaiṣṇavas.

एवं नगाहयज्ञेऽस्मिन् समाप्ते श्रोतृभिस्तदा । पुस्तकस्य च वक्तुश्च पूजा कार्यातिभक्तितः

When this sacrifice of narrating the story is completed, the book and the speaker should be worshipped with great devotion by the listeners.

प्रसादतुलसीमाला श्रोतृभ्यश्चाथ दीयताम् । मृदंगतालललितं कर्तव्यं कीर्तनं ततः

Then, garlands of sacred basil should be given to the listeners, and melodious kīrtana with mṛdaṅga and cymbals should be performed.

जयशब्दं नमःशब्दं शंखशब्दं च कारयेत् । विप्रेभ्यो याचकेभ्यश्च वित्तं अन्नं च दीयताम्

One should arrange for shouts of victory, words of reverence, and the sound of conch shells; wealth and food should be given to brāhmaṇas and beggars.

विरक्तश्चेत् भवेत् श्रोता गीता वाद्या परेऽहनि । गृहस्थश्चेत् तदा होमः कर्तव्यः कर्मशान्तये

If the listener is detached, singing and instrumental music should be performed on the next day; if a householder, then a fire sacrifice should be done for the purification of actions.

प्रतिश्लोकं तु जुहुयात् विधिना दशमस्य च । पायसं मधु सर्पिश्च तिलान् आदिकसंयुतम्

For each verse, one should offer, according to the proper method, sweet rice, honey, ghee, and sesame mixed with other ingredients, especially for the Tenth Canto.

अथवा हवनं कुर्याद् गायत्र्या सुसमाहितः । तन्मयत्वात् पुराणस्य परमस्य च तत्त्वतः

Alternatively, one may perform the fire offering with the Gāyatrī mantra, with full concentration, because the Purāṇa is of the same essence as the Supreme.

होमाशक्तौ बुधो हौम्यं दद्यात् तत्फल सिद्धये । नानाच्छिद्रनिरोधार्थं न्यूनताधिकतानयोः

If unable to perform the fire offering, a wise person should give the materials for it to others for the attainment of its result, to remove various obstacles and deficiencies or excesses.

दोषयोः प्रशमार्थं च पठेत् नामसहस्रकम् । तेन स्यात् सफलं सर्वं नास्त्यस्मादधिकं यतः

To pacify faults, one should recite the thousand names of the Lord; by this, everything becomes fruitful, for there is nothing greater than this.

द्वादश ब्राह्मणान् पश्चात् भोजयेत् मधुपायसैः । दद्यात् सुवर्णं धेनुं च व्रतपूर्णत्वहेतवे

Afterwards, one should feed twelve brāhmaṇas with sweet rice and honey, and give gold and a cow to complete the vow.

शक्तौ पलत्रयमितं स्वर्णसिंहं विधाय च । तत्रास्य पुस्तकं स्थाप्यं लिखितं ललिताक्षरम्

If able, one should fashion a lion of gold weighing three palas, and there place the book, written in beautiful script.

संपूज्य आवाहनाद्यैः तद् उपचारैः सदक्षिणम् । वस्त्रभूषण गन्धाद्यैः पूजिताय यतात्मने

Having honored him with the proper offerings, beginning with invitation and including all the attendant rites with due gifts, as well as clothing, ornaments, fragrances, and the like, to the one who is self-controlled and worthy of worship—

आचार्याय सुधीर्दत्त्वा मुक्तः स्याद् भवबंधनैः । एवं कृते विधाने च सर्वपापनिवारणे

If a wise person gives this to the teacher, he becomes freed from the bonds of worldly existence; in this way, by performing the prescribed rite, all sins are removed.

फलदं स्यात् पुराणं तु श्रीमद्‌भागवतं शुभम् । धर्मकामार्थमोक्षाणां साधनं स्यात् न संशयः

This auspicious Purāṇa, the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, bestows results; it is certainly the means for attaining righteousness, desire, wealth, and liberation—there is no doubt.

कुमारा ऊचुः - इति ते कथितं सर्वं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि । श्रीमद्‌भागवतेनैव भुक्तिमुक्ति करे स्थिते

The Kumāras said: Thus, everything has been told to you; what more do you wish to hear? Since the Śrīmad Bhāgavata itself grants both enjoyment and liberation.

सूत उवाच - इत्युक्त्वा ते महात्मानः प्रोचुर्भागवतीं कथाम् । सर्वपापहरां पुण्यां भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनीम्

Sūta said: Having spoken thus, those great souls recited the Bhāgavata narrative, which destroys all sins, is meritorious, and bestows both enjoyment and liberation.

श्रृण्वतां सर्वभूतानां सप्ताहं नियतात्मनाम् । यथाविधि ततो देवं तुष्टुवुः पुरुषोत्तमम्

For seven days, all beings with controlled minds listened as prescribed, and then they praised the Supreme Person, the best among the gods.

तदन्ते ज्ञानवैराग्य-भक्तीनां पुष्टता परा । तारुण्यं परमं चाभूत् सर्वभूतमनोहरम्

At the end of that, the strength of knowledge, detachment, and devotion became supreme; a youthful vigor arose, enchanting all beings.

नारदश्च कृतार्थोऽभूत् सिद्धे स्वीये मनोरथे । पुलकीकृतसर्वाङ्‌ग परमानन्दसम्भृतः

Nārada, having achieved his purpose and fulfilled his own desire, became overwhelmed with supreme bliss, his whole body thrilled.

एवं कथां समाकर्ण्य नारदो भगवत्प्रियः । प्रेमगद्‌गदया वाचा तानुवाच कृताञलिः

Thus, having attentively heard the narrative, Nārada, beloved of the Lord, with hands joined and voice choked with love, addressed them.