Bhagavata Purana

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.

नारद उवाच - धन्योस्मि अनुगृहितोऽस्मि भवद्‌भिः करुणापरैः । अद्य मे भगवान् लब्धः सर्वपापहरो हरिः

Nārada said: I am blessed, I am favored by you, who are full of boundless compassion; today I have attained the Lord, Hari, the remover of all sins.

श्रवणं सर्वधर्मेभ्यो वरं मन्ये तपोधनाः । वैकुण्ठस्थो यतः कृष्णः श्रवणाद् यस्य लभ्यते

Among all religious practices, I consider hearing to be the best, O ascetics, for by hearing alone, one attains Kṛṣṇa, who dwells in Vaikuṇṭha.

सूत उवाच - एवं ब्रुवति वै तत्र नारदे वैष्णवोत्तमे । परिभ्रमन् समायातः शुको योगेश्वरास्तदा

Sūta said: While the eminent Vaiṣṇava Nārada was speaking thus, Śuka, the lord of yogis, arrived there, wandering about.

(वंशस्थ) तत्राययौ षोडशवार्षिकस्तदा व्यासात्मजो ज्ञानमहाब्धिचन्द्रमाः । कथावसाने निजलाभपूर्णः प्रेम्णा पठन् भागवतं शनैः शनैः

At that time, the sixteen-year-old son of Vyāsa, the moon of the great ocean of knowledge, arrived; at the end of the discourse, fulfilled in his own attainment, he began to recite the Bhāgavata with love, slowly and gently.

(इंद्रवंशा) दृष्ट्वा सदस्याः परमोरुतेजसं सद्यः समुत्थाय ददुर्महासनम् । प्रीत्या सुरर्षिस्तमपूजयत् सुखं स्थितोऽवदत् संश्रृणुतामलां गिरम्

Seeing him, the assembly, perceiving his supreme brilliance, immediately rose and offered him the great seat; the sage among the gods honored him with affection, and, seated comfortably, he spoke: 'Listen to my pure words.'

श्रीशुक उवाच - (द्रुतविलंबित) निगमकल्पतरोर्गलितं फलं शुकमुखात् अमृतद्रवसंयुतम् । पिबत भागवतं रसमालयं मुहुरको रसिका भुवि भावुकाः

Śrī Śuka said: The Bhāgavata is the ripened fruit of the wish-fulfilling tree of the Vedas, imbued with nectar flowing from the mouth of Śuka; O connoisseurs and sensitive souls on earth, repeatedly drink the essence of the Bhāgavata.

(शार्दूलविक्रीडित) धर्मप्रोज्झितकैतवोऽत्र परमो निर्मत्सराणां सतां वेद्यं वास्तवमत्र वस्तु शिवदं तापत्रयोन्मूलनम् । श्रीमद्‌भागवते महामुनिकृते किं वा परैरीश्वरः सद्यो हृद्यवरुध्यतेऽत्र कृतिभिः शुश्रूषुभिस्तत्क्षणात्

Here, in the Śrīmad Bhāgavata composed by the great sage, all deceitful religion is cast aside; it is meant for the pure-hearted, free from envy. The true, beneficial reality is revealed here, uprooting the threefold miseries. What need is there for other scriptures? Here, the Lord is immediately bound in the hearts of the sincere, eager to listen.

श्रीमद्‌भागवतं पुराणतिलकं यद्‌वैष्णवानां धनं यस्मिन् पारमहंस्यमेवममलं ज्ञानं परं गीयते । यत्र ज्ञानविरागभक्तिसहितं नैष्कर्म्यमाविष्कृतं तत् श्रुण्वन् प्रपठन् विचारणपरो भक्त्या विमुच्येन्नरः

The Śrīmad Bhāgavata, the crest-jewel of Purāṇas, is the treasure of the Vaiṣṇavas; in it, the supreme, spotless knowledge of the paramahaṃsas is sung. Here, actionless knowledge, together with wisdom, detachment, and devotion, is revealed; by hearing, reciting, and deeply contemplating it with devotion, a person is liberated.

(अनुष्टुप्) स्वर्गे सत्ये च कैलासे वैकुण्ठे नास्त्ययं रसः । अतः पिबन्तु सद्‌भाग्या मा मा मुञ्चत कर्हिचित्

In heaven, in Satya-loka, on Kailāsa, or in Vaikuṇṭha, this taste is not found; therefore, O fortunate ones, always drink it—never let it go.

सूत उवाच - (इंद्रवंशा) एवं ब्रुवाणे सति बादरायणौ मध्ये सभायां हरिराविरासीत् । प्रह्रादबल्युद्धवफाल्गुनादिभिः वृत्तं सुरर्षिस्तमपूजयच्च तान्

Sūta said: As Bādarāyaṇa (Vyāsa) was thus speaking in the assembly, Hari appeared there, surrounded by Prahlāda, Bali, Uddhava, Arjuna, and others; the sage among the gods (Nārada) honored him and those companions.

दृष्ट्वा प्रसन्नं महदासने हरिं ते चक्रिरे कीर्तनमग्रतस्तदा । भवो भवान्या कमलासनस्तु तत्रागमत् कीर्तनदर्शनाय

Seeing Hari, radiant and seated on the exalted seat, they began to sing his praises at the forefront. Then Śiva with Pārvatī, and Brahmā on his lotus seat, also arrived there to witness the glorification.

(स्रग्धरा) प्रह्रादस्तालधारी तरलगतितया चोद्धवः कांस्यधारी वीणाधारी सुरर्षि स्वरकुशलतया रागकर्तार्जुनोऽभूत् । इन्द्रोऽवादीन्मृदङ्‌गं जय जय सुकराः कीर्तने ते कुमारा यत्राग्रे भववक्ता सरसरचनया व्यासपुत्रो बभूव

Prahlāda held cymbals, Uddhava played the bell with lively movement, the sage among the gods took up the vīṇā, skilled in melody, and Arjuna became the leader of the tune; Indra played the mṛdaṅga, exclaiming 'Victory! Victory! How skillful you are, O Kumāras, in this praise!' At the front, Vyāsa's son (Śuka) recited with flowing composition.

(उपेंद्रवज्रा) ननर्त मध्ये त्रिकमेव तत्र भक्त्यादिकानां नटवत्सुतेजसाम् । अलौलिकं कीर्तनमेतदीक्ष्य हरिः प्रसन्नोऽपि वचोऽब्रवीत् तत्

There, in the midst, the three (Hari, Śiva, Brahmā) danced together, shining like actors among the most radiant devotees. Witnessing this extraordinary glorification, even though pleased, Hari spoke these words.

(इंद्रवज्रा) मत्तो वरं भाववृताद्‌वृणुध्वं प्रीतः कथाकीर्तनतोऽस्मि साम्प्रतम् । श्रुत्वेति तद्वाक्यमतिप्रसन्नाः प्रेमार्द्रचित्ता हरिमूचिरे ते

Ask from me a boon, according to your heart's devotion; I am pleased by your narration and praise at this very moment. Hearing these words, they, deeply moved with love, joyfully addressed Hari.

(उपेंद्रवज्रा) नगाहगाथासु च सर्वभक्तैः एभिस्त्वया भाव्यमिति प्रयत्‍नात् । मनोरथोऽयं परिपूरनीयः तथेति चोक्त्वान्तरधीयताच्युतः

In all the songs of the mountains and serpents, and by all devotees, may you be remembered with effort—this is our wish, which must be fulfilled. Saying 'So be it,' Acyuta disappeared.

(वंशस्थ) ततोऽनमत्तत् चरणेषु नारदः तथा शुकादीनपि तापसांश्च । अथ प्रहृष्टाः परिनष्टमोहाः सर्व ययुः पीतकथामृतास्ते

Then Nārada bowed at his feet, as did Śuka and the other ascetics. Rejoicing, their delusion dispelled, all departed, having drunk the nectar of the divine story.

(इंद्रवज्रा) भक्तिः सुताभ्यां सह रक्षिता सा शास्त्रे स्वकीयेऽपि तदा शुकेन । अतो हरिर्भागवतस्य सेवनात् चित्तं समायाति हि वैष्णवानाम्

That devotion, protected along with his sons, was preserved by Śuka even in his own scripture. Thus, by serving the Bhāgavata, the mind of the Vaiṣṇavas is drawn to Hari.

दारिद्र्यदुःखज्वरदाहितानां मायापिशाचीपरिमर्दितानाम् संसारसिन्धौ परिपातितानां क्षेमाय वै भागवतं प्रगर्जति

For those afflicted by poverty, suffering, and fever, crushed by the demon of illusion, cast into the ocean of worldly existence—the Bhāgavata resounds for their well-being.