ଜନ୍ମ ଗୁହ୍ଯଂ ଭଗଵତୋ ଯ ଏତତ୍ପ୍ରଯତୋ ନରଃ। ସାଯଂପ୍ରାତର୍ଗୃଣନ୍ଭକ୍ତ୍ଯା ଦୁଃଖଗ୍ରାମାଦ୍ ଵିମୁଚ୍ଯତେ
This birth of the Lord is secret: a man who attentively invokes it morning and evening with devotion is freed from the village of sorrows.
ଏତଦ୍ ରୂପଂ ଭଗଵତୋ ହ୍ଯରୂପସ୍ଯ ଚିଦାତ୍ମନଃ । ମାଯାଗୁଣୈର୍ଵିରଚିତଂ ମହଦାଦିଭିରାତ୍ମନି
That form of the Lord is indeed the form of the conscious Self, fashioned within the self by the qualities of māyā and by great primordial principles.
ଯଥା ନଭସି ମେଘୌଘୋ ରେଣୁର୍ଵା ପାର୍ଥିଵୋଽନିଲେ । ଏଵଂ ଦ୍ରଷ୍ଟରି ଦୃଶ୍ଯତ୍ଵଂ ଆରୋପିତଂ ଅବୁଦ୍ଧିଭିଃ
Just as clouds in the sky, dust on the earth, or wind in the air are seen by the seer, so too visible and invisible appearances are superimposed by the unenlightened.
ଅତଃ ପରଂ ଯଦଵ୍ଯକ୍ତଂ ଅଵ୍ଯୂଢଗୁଣବୃଂହିତମ୍। ଅଦୃଷ୍ଟାଶ୍ରୁତଵସ୍ତୁତ୍ଵାତ୍ ସ ଜୀଵୋ ଯତ୍ ପୁନର୍ଭଵଃ
Therefore that which is beyond, unmanifest and arrayed with qualities, unseen and unheard as a reality, is what the living being again becomes—this is rebirth.
ଯତ୍ରେମେ ସଦସଦ୍ ରୂପେ ପ୍ରତିଷିଦ୍ଧେ ସ୍ଵସଂଵିଦା । ଅଵିଦ୍ଯଯାଽଽତ୍ମନି କୃତେ ଇତି ତଦ୍ବ୍ରହ୍ମଦର୍ଶନମ୍
Where the same Self appears in forms of being and non-being and one's own consciousness is opposed, that beholding of Brahman is due to ignorance acting in the Self.
ଯଦ୍ଯେଷୋପରତା ଦେଵୀ ମାଯା ଵୈଶାରଦୀ ମତିଃ । ସଂପନ୍ନ ଏଵେତି ଵିଦୁଃ ମହିମ୍ନି ସ୍ଵେ ମହୀଯତେ
If this goddess named Māyā—clever and finely skilled—is present and endowed with capacities, then the wise know she is complete and is magnified in her own greatness.
ଏଵଂ ଜନ୍ମାନି କର୍ମାଣି ହ୍ଯକର୍ତୁରଜନସ୍ଯ ଚ । ଵର୍ଣଯନ୍ତି ସ୍ମ କଵଯୋ ଵେଦଗୁହ୍ଯାନି ହୃତ୍ପତେଃ
Thus births and actions, even of the agentless, are described by poets (kavayaḥ) who reveal in the heart the secret Vedic truths of the Lord.
(ଉପେଂଦ୍ରଵଜ୍ରା) ସ ଵା ଇଦଂ ଵିଶ୍ଵମମୋଘଲୀଲଃ ସୃଜତ୍ଯଵତ୍ଯତ୍ତି ନ ସଜ୍ଜତେଽସ୍ମିନ୍। ଭୂତେଷୁ ଚାନ୍ତର୍ହିତ ଆତ୍ମତଂତ୍ରଃ ଷାଡ୍ଵର୍ଗିକଂ ଜିଘ୍ରତି ଷଡ୍ଗୁଣେଶଃ
That imperishable, unfailing Play of the world is always creating and dissolving without binding itself here; within beings the inner principle acts, and the sixfold divisions scent the six qualities.
ନ ଚାସ୍ଯ କଶ୍ଚିନ୍ନିପୁଣେନ ଧାତୁଃ ଅଵୈତି ଜନ୍ତୁଃ କୁମନୀଷ ଊତୀଃ। ନାମାନି ରୂପାଣି ମନୋଵଚୋଭିଃ ସନ୍ତନ୍ଵତୋ ନଟଚର୍ଯାମିଵାଜ୍ଞଃ
No being can fashion (perfect) this principle by craft; names, forms, and the word of mind proceed in succession like actors following a traditional role.
ସ ଵେଦ ଧାତୁଃ ପଦଵୀଂ ପରସ୍ଯ ଦୁରନ୍ତଵୀର୍ଯସ୍ଯ ରଥାଙ୍ଗପାଣେଃ। ଯୋଽମାଯଯ ାସନ୍ତତଯାନୁଵୃତ୍ତ୍ଯା ଭଜେତ ତତ୍ପାଦସରୋଜଗନ୍ଧମ୍
That principle knows the supreme station of another—the mighty one who wields the chariot's reins; whoever constantly worships by that unbroken devotion will experience the fragrance of lotus-feet.
ଅଥେହ ଧନ୍ଯା ଭଗଵନ୍ତ ଇତ୍ଥଂ ଯଦ୍ଵାସୁଦେଵେଽଖିଲଲୋକନାଥେ। କୁର୍ଵନ୍ତି ସର୍ଵାତ୍ମକମାତ୍ମଭାଵଂ ନ ଯତ୍ର ଭୂଯଃ ପରିଵର୍ତଉଗ୍ରଃ
Blessed indeed here are those, O Lord, who in this way make themselves wholly one with Vasudeva, the Lord of all worlds; where such integral selfhood is, fierce change no longer occurs.
ଇଦଂ ଭାଗଵତଂ ନାମ ପୁରାଣଂ ବ୍ରହ୍ମସମ୍ମିତମ୍ । ଉତ୍ତମଶ୍ଲୋକଚରିତଂ ଚକାର ଭଗଵାନ୍ ଋଷିଃ
This is the Purāṇa called the Bhāgavata, agreed upon as Brahman; the Lord made it a supreme poem of noble deeds.
(ଅନୁଷ୍ଟୁପ୍) ନିଃଶ୍ରେଯସାଯ ଲୋକସ୍ଯ ଧନ୍ଯଂ ସ୍ଵସ୍ତ୍ଯଯନଂ ମହତ୍ । ତଦିଦଂ ଗ୍ରାହଯାମାସ ସୁତଂ ଆତ୍ମଵତାଂ ଵରମ୍
It brings the highest welfare and blessedness to the world; hearing it is the greatest good — thus he taught this foremost instruction to the best of those who are self-realized.
ସର୍ଵଵେଦେତିହାସାନାଂ ସାରଂ ସାରଂ ସମୁଦ୍ଧୃତମ୍। ସ ତୁ ସଂଶ୍ରାଵଯାମାସ ମହାରାଜଂ ପରୀକ୍ଷିତମ୍
He extracted the essence from all the Vedas and histories, distilling their cream; then he proclaimed it to King Parīkṣit.
ପ୍ରାଯୋପଵିଷ୍ଟଂ ଗଙ୍ଗାଯାଂ ପରୀତଂ ପରମର୍ଷିଭିଃ । କୃଷ୍ଣେ ସ୍ଵଧାମୋପଗତେ ଧର୍ମଜ୍ଞାନାଦିଭିଃ ସହ
Seated once on the banks of the Gaṅgā and beloved of the great sages, when Krishna reached his own abode he was accompanied by those versed in righteousness and knowledge.
କଲୌ ନଷ୍ଟଦୃଶାମେଷ ପୁରାଣାର୍କୋଽଧୁନୋଦିତଃ। ତତ୍ର କୀର୍ତଯତୋ ଵିପ୍ରା ଵିପ୍ରର୍ଷେର୍ଭୂରିତେଜସଃ
In this age, where true vision is lost, a sun among Purāṇas has now risen; there the Brahmins, praising, filled with radiance, proclaimed it among the sage-Brahmins.
ଅହଂ ଚାଧ୍ଯଗମଂ ତତ୍ର ନିଵିଷ୍ଟସ୍ତଦ୍ ଅନୁଗ୍ରହାତ୍। ସୋଽହଂ ଵଃ ଶ୍ରାଵଯିଷ୍ଯାମି ଯଥାଧୀତଂ ଯଥାମତି
I too, having entered that teaching by grace, will recount it to you as I received and as my mind comprehends.
ଵ୍ଯାସ ଉଵାଚ । (ଅନୁଷ୍ଟୁପ୍) ଇତି ବ୍ରୁଵାଣଂ ସଂସ୍ତୂଯ ମୁନୀନାଂ ଦୀର୍ଘସତ୍ରିଣାମ୍ । ଵୃଦ୍ଧଃ କୁଲପତିଃ ସୂତଂ ବହ୍ଵୃଚଃ ଶୌନକୋଽବ୍ରଵୀତ୍
Vyāsa said: Thus speaking in praise of the long-sitting sages, the venerable head of the clan addressed the sūta — Bhaṛvācchhauna ka — and spoke.
ଶୌନକ ଉଵାଚ । ସୂତ ସୂତ ମହାଭାଗ ଵଦ ନୋ ଵଦତାଂ ଵର । କଥାଂ ଭାଗଵତୀଂ ପୁଣ୍ଯାଂ ଯଦାହ ଭଗଵାନ୍ ଶୁକଃ
Śaunaka said: O sūta, noble sūta, speak — tell us — your best account: what is the sacred Bhāgavata teaching that Śuka the exalted declared?
କସ୍ମିନ୍ ଯୁଗେ ପ୍ରଵୃତ୍ତେଯଂ ସ୍ଥାନେ ଵା କେନ ହେତୁନା । କୁତଃ ସଞ୍ଚୋଦିତଃ କୃଷ୍ଣଃ କୃତଵାନ୍ ସଂହିତାଂ ମୁନିଃ
In what age did this begin, at what place and for what cause was Krishna’s assembly composed by the sage?
ତସ୍ଯ ପୁତ୍ରୋ ମହାଯୋଗୀ ସମଦୃଙ୍ ନିର୍ଵିକଲ୍ପକଃ । ଏକାନ୍ତମତିଃ ଉନ୍ନିଦ୍ରୋ ଗୂଢୋ ମୂଢ ଇଵେଯତେ
His son, the great yogin, equal-seeing and free of conceptual distinctions, single-minded, half-asleep, hidden and seeming like a fool, was of one resolute view.
(ଵସଂତତିଲକା) ଦୃଷ୍ଟ୍ଵାନୁଯାନ୍ତମୃଷିମାତ୍ମଜମପ୍ଯନଗ୍ନଂ ଦେଵ୍ଯୋ ହ୍ରିଯା ପରିଦଧୁର୍ନ ସୁତସ୍ଯ ଚିତ୍ରମ୍ । ତଦ୍ଵୀକ୍ଷ୍ଯ ପୃଚ୍ଛତି ମୁନୌ ଜଗଦୁସ୍ତଵାସ୍ତି ସ୍ତ୍ରୀପୁମ୍ଭିଦା ନ ତୁ ସୁତସ୍ଯ ଵିଵିକ୍ତଦୃଷ୍ଟେଃ
Seeing the sage’s son following after him, unclothed, the goddess, abashed, did not display the boy’s form; observing that, the two sages ask whether the world exists — whether the child be both male and female, not simply secluded in sight.
(ଅନୁଷ୍ଟୁପ୍) କଥମାଲକ୍ଷିତଃ ପୌରୈଃ ସଂପ୍ରାପ୍ତଃ କୁରୁଜାଙ୍ଗଲାନ୍ । ଉନ୍ମତ୍ତମୂକଜଡଵଦ୍ ଵିଚରନ୍ ଗଜସାହ୍ଵଯେ
How was he perceived by townsfolk when he entered the Kurujangala wilderness, wandering like a mad, heavy‑faced elephant at a war elephant’s call?
କଥଂ ଵା ପାଣ୍ଡଵେଯସ୍ଯ ରାଜର୍ଷେର୍ମୁନିନା ସହ । ସଂଵାଦଃ ସମଭୂତ୍ ତାତ ଯତ୍ରୈଷା ସାତ୍ଵତୀ ଶ୍ରୁତିଃ
How, O son, did that dialogue occur between the kingly-sage of the Pāṇḍavas and the munificent ascetic? Tell me where that sattvic teaching was heard.
ସ ଗୋଦୋହନମାତ୍ରଂ ହି ଗୃହେଷୁ ଗୃହମେଧିନାମ୍ । ଅଵେକ୍ଷତେ ମହାଭାଗଃ ତୀର୍ଥୀକୁର୍ଵନ୍ ତଦାଶ୍ରମମ୍
A great fortunate man observes in a householder’s home nothing more than the milking of cows; he regards that hermitage as a pilgrimage and does penance there.
ଅଭିମନ୍ଯୁସୁତଂ ସୂତ ପ୍ରାହୁର୍ଭାଗଵତୋତ୍ତମମ୍ । ତସ୍ଯ ଜନ୍ମ ମହାଶ୍ଚର୍ଯଂ କର୍ମାଣି ଚ ଗୃଣୀହି ନଃ
The bard said: A Sūta proclaimed Abhimanyu’s son, the excellent of the Bhagavans; tell us of that wondrous birth and the deeds he performed.
ସ ସମ୍ରାଟ୍ କସ୍ଯ ଵା ହେତୋଃ ପାଣ୍ଡୂନାଂ ମାନଵର୍ଧନଃ । ପ୍ରାଯୋପଵିଷ୍ଟୋ ଗଙ୍ଗାଯାଂ ଅନାଦୃତ୍ଯ ଅଧିରାଟ୍ ଶ୍ରିଯମ୍
For what reason was that sovereign, the scion of Pāṇḍu and restorer of men, ruler? Having taken his seat on the Ganges’ bank, he did not fail to protect royal wealth.
(ଵଂଶସ୍ଥ) ନମନ୍ତି ଯତ୍ପାଦନିକେତମାତ୍ମନଃ ଶିଵାଯ ହାନୀଯ ଧନାନି ଶତ୍ରଵଃ । କଥଂ ସ ଵୀରଃ ଶ୍ରିଯମଙ୍ଗ ଦୁସ୍ତ୍ଯଜାଂ ଯୁଵୈଷତୋତ୍ ସ୍ରଷ୍ଟୁମହୋ ସହାସୁଭିଃ
They bow to that sanctified place beneath whose foot the foes suffer loss of wealth; how could that hero, giving up auspicious prosperity, abandon noble companions at their youthful prime?
ଶିଵାଯ ଲୋକସ୍ଯ ଭଵାଯ ଭୂତଯେ ଯ ଉତ୍ତମଶ୍ଲୋକପରାଯଣା ଜନାଃ । ଜୀଵନ୍ତି ନାତ୍ମାର୍ଥମସୌ ପରାଶ୍ରଯଂ ମୁମୋଚ ନିର୍ଵିଦ୍ଯ କୁତଃ କଲେଵରମ୍
For Shiva, for the world, for the welfare of beings — those devoted to excellent verses live not for themselves but for others; how could he, freed through knowledge, yet cling to the body?
(ଅନୁଷ୍ଟୁପ୍) ତତ୍ସର୍ଵଂ ନଃ ସମାଚକ୍ଷ୍ଵ ପୃଷ୍ଟୋ ଯଦିହ କିଞ୍ଚନ । ମନ୍ଯେ ତ୍ଵାଂ ଵିଷଯେ ଵାଚାଂ ସ୍ନାତମନ୍ଯତ୍ର ଛାନ୍ଦସାତ୍
All that tell us plainly now, for we asked about anything here; I think your speech is polished in this metre and differs elsewhere.