भगवंस्त्वत्प्रसादेन प्राप्तं राज्यं महन्मया
O Lord, through your grace, I have attained this great kingdom.
सरोगस्य यथा भोगः प्राप्तोऽपि न सुखावहः
Just as enjoyment for one who is ill, though obtained, does not bring happiness.
यत्सुखं पावनं प्रीतिर्वनमूलफलाशिनाम्
The happiness and pure delight found by those who eat fruits and roots in the forest.
यो नो बन्धुर्गुरुर्गोप्ता सदा शर्म च वर्म च
He who is our friend, teacher, protector, always brings us joy and shields us.
अविवेकमहं धास्ये मनो मे पापपङ्किलम्
I shall abandon lack of discernment; my mind is stained by sin.
संश्रुतानि पुराणानि वेदास्सांगा मया विभो 4.1.
O Lord, I have heard the ancient texts and the Vedas with their branches.
एते सधर्मगोप्तारो मुनयः समुपागताः
These sages, who protect righteousness, have now arrived.
अर्थशास्त्राणि यावंति धर्मशास्त्राणि यानि वै
As many treatises on wealth and as many scriptures on righteousness as there are.
स्वर्गं गते शान्तनवे भवान्कृष्णोऽथ यादवः
When Shantanu went to heaven, you, Krishna, and the Yadava also.
सत्यं सत्यवतीसूनुर्धर्मराजाय वक्ष्यति
The son of Satyavati will speak the truth to King Dharma.
व्यास उवाच यदाख्येयं तदाख्यातं मया भीष्मेण तेऽनघ
Vyasa said: Whatever was to be told, I have related to you through Bhishma, O sinless one.
धर्मज्ञो ह्यसि मेधावी गुणवान्प्रा ज्ञसत्तमः
You are knowledgeable in dharma, intelligent, virtuous, and foremost among the wise.
पार्श्वस्थिते हृषीकेशे केशवे केशिसूदने
With Hrishikesha, Kesava, the slayer of Kesi, standing nearby.
कर्ता पालयिता हर्ता जगतां यो जगन्मयः
He who is the creator, protector, and destroyer of the worlds, who is the essence of the universe.
समादिश्येति कर्तव्यं भगवान्बादरायणः
Thus, whatever must be done should be instructed by the venerable Badarayana.
स्वाभाष्य भारतविधातरि संप्रयाते ते कौतुकाकुलधियो मुनयः प्रशान्ताः 4.1.
When the composer of the Bharata departed after speaking, the sages, their minds filled with curiosity, became tranquil.
ब्रह्माण्डोत्पत्तिवर्णनम् युधिष्ठिर उवाच कस्य प्रतिष्ठा निर्दिष्टा को हेतुः किं परायणम्
Yudhishthira said: Whose foundation is declared, what is the cause, and what is the ultimate goal?
कति द्वीपाः समुद्राश्च कियंतो हि कुलाचलाः
How many continents and oceans are there, and how many mountain ranges?
श्रुतोऽनुभूतश्च मया संसारे सरता चिरम्
I have heard and experienced this while long journeying through the cycle of existence.
अजाय विश्वरूपाय निर्गुणाय गुणात्मने
To the unborn, of universal form, attributeless, yet the essence of all qualities—
अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि शृणु पार्थ पुरातनम् पृष्टो यदुत्तरं प्रादादृषिभ्यस्तन्मया श्रुतम्
Here I shall describe to you, O Partha, the ancient account; listen—what answer was given to the sages when asked, that I have heard.
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्वाशुभविनाशनम्
It is auspicious, brings fame, grants longevity, and destroys all misfortune.
एकात्मकं त्रिदैवत्यं चतुःपंचसुलक्षणम्
It is of one essence, threefold in divinity, and marked by four and five distinguishing features.
एक एव जगद्योनिः प्रतियोनिषु संस्थितः
There is but one source of the universe, present in every individual origin.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुर्वृषांकश्च त्रयो देवाः सतां मताः
Brahma, Vishnu, and the Bull-bannered (Shiva)—these three are regarded as gods by the virtuous.
प्रक्रिया चानुषंगश्च उपोद्धातस्तथैव च 4.2.
The process, the sequence, and likewise the introduction—
तर्कश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च वंशो मन्वन्तराणि च
Reasoning, secondary creation, genealogy, and the cycles of Manus—
एष वक्तव्यविषयः सुमहान्प्रतिभाति मे
This subject to be spoken of appears to me exceedingly vast.
महदादिविशेषान्तं सवैरूप्यं सलक्षणम्
From the great principle down to the particular, with all their distinctions and characteristics—
अव्यक्ताज्जायते बुद्धिर्महानिति च सा स्मृता
From the unmanifest arises intellect, which is thus remembered as the great principle.