Bhagavata Purana

श्रेयसां यद् भवेत् श्रेयः पावनानां च पावनम् । कृष्णप्राप्तिकरं शश्वत् साधनं तद्‌वदाधुना

Tell us now that supreme good which is the best among all auspicious things, the purest of the pure, and the eternal practice that leads to attaining Kṛṣṇa.

चिन्तामणिर्लोकसुखं सुरद्रुः स्वर्गसंपदम् । प्रयच्छति गुरुः प्रीतो वैकुण्ठं योगिदुर्लभम्

The philosopher's stone grants worldly happiness, the celestial tree bestows heavenly riches, but a pleased guru gives Vaikuṇṭha, which is rare even for yogis.

सूत उवाच - प्रीतिः शौनक चित्ते ते ह्यतो वच्मि विचार्य च । सर्वसिद्धान्त निष्पन्नं संसरभयनाशनम्

Sūta said: Because affection has arisen in your heart, O Śaunaka, I will speak after careful consideration, that which is the conclusion of all teachings and destroys the fear of worldly existence.

भक्त्योघवर्धनं यच्च कृष्णसंतोषहेतुकम् । तदहं तेऽभिधास्यामि सावधानतया श्रृणु

That which increases the flood of devotion and causes satisfaction for Kṛṣṇa, I will tell you; listen attentively.

कालव्यालमुखाग्रास त्रासनिर्णाशहेतवे । श्रीमद्‌भागवतं शास्त्रं कलौ कीरेण भाषितम्

To remove the terror of being devoured by the serpent of time, the scripture Śrīmad Bhāgavata was spoken by Kīra in the Kali age.

एतस्माद् अपरं किंचिद् मनःशुद्ध्यै न विद्यते । जन्मान्तरे भवेत् पुण्यं तदा भागवतं लभेत्

There is nothing else for purification of the mind; if one has merit from previous births, then one obtains the Bhāgavata.

परीक्षिते कथां वक्तुं सभायां संस्थिते शुके । सुधाकुंभं गृहीत्वैव देवास्तत्र समागमन्

When Parīkṣit was seated in the assembly to hear the story, and Śuka was present, the gods gathered there, bringing a pot of nectar.

शुकं नत्वावदन् सर्वे स्वकार्यकुशलाः सुराः । कथासुधां प्रयच्छस्व गृहीत्वैव सुधां इमाम्

Having bowed to Śuka, all the skillful gods said: Give us the nectar of stories, having brought this nectar.

एवं विनिमये जाते सुधा राज्ञा प्रपीयताम् । प्रपास्यामो वयं सर्वे श्रीमद्‌भागवतामृतम्

When the exchange was made, the king was to drink the nectar; we all will drink the nectar of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.

क्व सुधा क्व कथा लोके क्व काचः क्व मणिर्महान् । ब्रह्मरातो विचार्यैवं तदा देवाञ्जहास ह

Where is nectar, where are stories in this world, where is glass, where is the great jewel? Brahmarāta, after considering thus, laughed at the gods.

अभक्तान् तांश्च विज्ञाय न ददौ स कथामृतम् । श्रीमद्‌भागवती वार्ता सुराणां अपि दुर्लभा

Recognizing those who were not devoted, he did not give them the nectar of stories; the tales of Śrīmad Bhāgavata are difficult to obtain even for the gods.

राज्ञो मोक्षं तथा वीक्ष्य पुरा धातापि विस्मितः । सत्यलोक तुलां बद्ध्वा तोलयत् साधनान्यजः

Seeing the king's liberation, even the creator was astonished; binding a scale in Satyaloka, the unborn weighed the means of liberation.

लघून्यन्यानि जातानि गौरवेण इदं महत् । तदा ऋषिगणाः सर्वे विस्मयं परमं ययुः

Other works that have arisen are minor; this one is great in its gravity. Therefore, all the sages were filled with the highest wonder.

मेनिरे भगवद्‌रूपं शास्त्रं भागवतं कलौ । पठनात् श्रवणात् सद्यो वैकुण्ठफलदायकम्

They regarded the Bhāgavata scripture as the very form of the Lord, for in the age of Kali, simply by reading or hearing it, one immediately attains the fruit of Vaikuṇṭha.

सप्ताहेन श्रुतं चैतत् सर्वथा मुक्तिदायकम् । सनकाद्यैः पुरा प्रोक्तं नारदाय दयापरैः

This was heard within seven days and, in every way, bestows liberation. Long ago, the compassionate Sanaka and others spoke it to Nārada.

यद्यपि ब्रह्मसंबंधात् श्रुतमेतत् सुरर्षिणा । सप्ताहश्रवणविधिः कुमारैस्तस्य भाषितः

Although this was heard from the divine sage due to his connection with Brahman, the method of hearing it in seven days was explained by the Kumāras.

शौनक उवाच - लोकविग्रहमुक्तस्य नारदस्यास्थिरस्य च । विधिश्रवे कुतः प्रीतिः संयोगः कुत्र तैः सह

Śaunaka said: How could Nārada, who is free from worldly ties and ever-moving, feel affection or form a connection with those present at the ritual?

सूत उवाच - अत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि भक्तियुक्तं कथानकम् । शुकेन मम यत्प्रोक्तं रहः शिष्यं विचार्य च

Sūta said: I shall recount to you here the narrative, imbued with devotion, which Śuka spoke to me in secret, after considering me his disciple.

एकदा हि विशालायां चत्वार ऋषयोऽमलाः । सत्सङ्गार्थं समायाता ददृशुस्तत्र नारदम्

Once, in Viśālā, four pure sages gathered for the sake of holy association, and there they saw Nārada.

कुमाराः ऊचुः - कथं ब्रह्मन् दीनमुखं कुतश्चिन्तातुरो भवान् । त्वरितं गम्यते कुत्र कुतश्चागमनं तव

The Kumāras said: O Brāhmaṇa, why is your face downcast, and why are you troubled in mind? Where are you hastening to, and from where have you come?

इदानीं शून्यचित्तोऽसि गतवित्तो यथा जनः । तवेदं मुक्तसङ्‌गस्य नोचितं वद कारणम्

Now you seem empty-hearted, as if you have lost your wealth, like an ordinary man. This does not befit one who is free from attachment—tell us the reason.

नारद उवाच - अहं तु पृथिवीं यातो ज्ञात्वा सर्वोत्तममिति । पुष्करं च प्रयागं च काशीं गोदावरीं तथा

Nārada said: I have traveled the earth, thinking it to be the highest, visiting Puṣkara, Prayāga, Kāśī, and also the Godāvarī.

हरिक्षेत्रं कुरुक्षेत्रं श्रीरङ्‌गं सेतुबन्धनम् । एवमादिषु तीर्थेषु भ्रममाण इतस्ततः

I wandered among holy places such as Harikṣetra, Kurukṣetra, Śrīraṅga, Setubandha, and others, moving here and there.

नापश्यं कुत्रचित् शर्म मनस्संतोषकारकम् । कलिनाधर्ममित्रेण धरेयं बाधिताधुना

Nowhere did I find happiness that brings satisfaction to the mind; at present, the earth is afflicted by Kali, the friend of unrighteousness.

सत्यं नास्ति तपः शौचं दया दानं न विद्यते । उदरंभरिणो जीवा वराकाः कूटभाषिणः

Truth, austerity, purity, compassion, and charity no longer exist. The unfortunate beings live only to fill their bellies and speak deceitfully.

मन्दाः सुमन्दमतयो मन्दभाग्या हि उपद्रुताः । पाखण्डनिरताः संतो विरक्ताः सपरिग्रहाः

People are dull, of poor understanding, unfortunate, and afflicted. The good are few, absorbed in hypocrisy, and even the renunciants maintain households.

तरुणीप्रभुता गेहे श्यालको बुद्धिदायकः । कन्याविक्रयिणो लोभाद् दंपतीनां च कल्कनम्

Young women rule the household, brothers-in-law give counsel, daughters are sold out of greed, and discord arises between husband and wife.

आश्रमा यवनै रुद्धाः तीर्थानि सरितस्तथा । देवतायतनान्यत्र दुष्टैः नष्टानि भूरिशः

The āśramas are obstructed by foreigners, as are the holy rivers; many temples of the gods have been destroyed by the wicked.

न योगी नैव सिद्धो वा न ज्ञानी सत्क्रियो नरः । कलिदावानलेनाद्य साधनं भस्मतां गतम्

There is no yogī, nor any accomplished one, nor a wise man, nor a person of good conduct; in the wildfire of Kali, all spiritual practices have been reduced to ashes.