श्रद्धान्वितायाथ गुणान्विताय परापवादाद् विरताय नित्यम् विशुद्धयोगाय बुधाय चैव कृपावते ऽथ क्षमिणे हिताय
To one endowed with faith and virtue, who always refrains from slandering others, who is ever engaged in pure yoga, who is wise, compassionate, and forgiving, and who seeks the good—
विविक्तशीलाय विधिप्रियाय विवादहीनाय बहुश्रुताय विनीतवेशाय नहैतुकात्मने सदैव गुह्यं त्व् इदम् एव देयम्
To one of secluded conduct, devoted to prescribed duties, free from quarrel, learned, modest in appearance, and without ulterior motives—only to such a one should this secret always be given.
एतैर् गुणैर् हीनतमे न देयम् एतत् परं ब्रह्म विशुद्धम् आहुः न श्रेयसे योक्ष्यति तादृशे कृतं धर्मप्रवक्तारम् अपात्रदानात्
This supreme, pure Brahman should not be given to one lacking these qualities; it is said that such a one will not attain the highest good, and the teacher of dharma is blamed for giving to the unfit.
पृथ्वीम् इमां वा यदि रत्नपूर्णां दद्याद् अदेयं त्व् इदम् अव्रताय जितेन्द्रियाय प्रयताय देयं देयं परं तत्त्वविदे नरेन्द्र
Even if one were to give this earth filled with jewels, this should not be given to one without vows; it should be given to one who has mastered the senses and is diligent, O king, and to one who knows the supreme truth.
कराल मा ते भयम् अस्ति किंचिद् एतच् छ्रुतं ब्रह्म परं त्वयाद्य यथावद् उक्तं परमं पवित्रं विशोकम् अत्यन्तम् अनादिमध्यम्
Do not fear, O Karala; today you have heard this supreme Brahman, as it was properly spoken—supremely pure, free from sorrow, endless, without beginning or middle.
अगाधम् एतद् अजरामरं च निरामयं वीतभयं शिवं च समीक्ष्य मोहं परवादसंज्ञम् एतस्य तत्त्वार्थम् इमं विदित्वा
This is unfathomable, ageless, deathless, free from disease, fearless, and auspicious; having understood the true meaning of this, seeing delusion as mere talk of others.
अवाप्तम् एतद् धि पुरा सनातनाद् धिरण्यगर्भाद् धि ततो नराधिप प्रसाद्य यत्नेन तम् उग्रतेजसं सनातनं ब्रह्म यथा त्वयैतत्
This was obtained long ago from the eternal Hiranyagarbha; then, O king, by striving and propitiating him, that one of fierce energy, the eternal Brahman, was acquired by you in this way.
पृष्टस् त्वया चास्मि यथा नरेन्द्र तथा मयेदं त्वयि नोक्तम् अन्यत् यथावाप्तं ब्रह्मणो मे नरेन्द्र महाज्ञानं मोक्षविदां परायणम्
You have questioned me thus, O king, and so I have spoken this to you; nothing else has been said by me, just as I received this supreme knowledge of Brahman, the ultimate path for those seeking liberation.
एतद् उक्तं परं ब्रह्म यस्मान् नावर्तते पुनः पञ्चविंशं मुनिश्रेष्ठा वसिष्ठेन यथा पुरा
This highest Brahman has been declared, from which there is no return; it was formerly spoken by the best of sages, Vasiṣṭha, as in ancient times.
पुनरावृत्तिम् आप्नोति परमं ज्ञानम् अव्ययम् नाति बुध्यति तत्त्वेन बुध्यमानो ऽजरामरम्
One who does not truly understand this supreme, imperishable knowledge attains rebirth again; but one who understands it in truth becomes ageless and immortal.
एतन् निःश्रेयसकरं ज्ञानं भोः परमं मया कथितं तत्त्वतो विप्राः श्रुत्वा देवर्षितो द्विजाः
This supreme knowledge, which brings the highest good, has been explained by me in its essence; O Brāhmaṇas, having heard it, you have been blessed by the gods.
हिरण्यगर्भाद् ऋषिणा वसिष्ठेन समाहृतम् वसिष्ठाद् ऋषिशार्दूलो नारदो ऽवाप्तवान् इदम्
This was gathered by the sage Vasiṣṭha from Hiranyagarbha; from Vasiṣṭha, the tiger among sages, Nārada obtained it.
नारदाद् विदितं मह्यम् एतद् उक्तं सनातनम् मा शुचध्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठाः श्रुत्वैतत् परमं पदम्
From Nārada, I have come to know this eternal teaching; do not grieve, O best of sages, having heard this supreme state.
येन क्षराक्षरे भिन्ने न भयं तस्य विद्यते विद्यते तु भयं यस्य यो नैनं वेत्ति तत्त्वतः
For one who knows the distinction between the perishable and imperishable, there is no fear; but fear exists for one who does not know this in truth.
अविज्ञानाच् च मूढात्मा पुनः पुनर् उपद्रवान् प्रेत्य जातिसहस्राणि मरणान्तान्य् उपाश्नुते
Due to ignorance, the deluded self repeatedly undergoes troubles, experiencing thousands of births ending in death after death.
देवलोकं तथा तिर्यङ् मानुष्यम् अपि चाश्नुते यदि वा मुच्यते वापि तस्माद् अज्ञानसागरात्
He attains the world of the gods, as well as that of animals and humans; or he may be liberated from the ocean of ignorance.
अज्ञानसागरे घोरे ह्य् अव्यक्तागाध उच्यते अहन्य् अहनि मज्जन्ति यत्र भूतानि भो द्विजाः
The terrible ocean of ignorance is called unfathomable and unmanifest; day after day, O Brāhmaṇas, beings sink into it.
तस्माद् अगाधाद् अव्यक्ताद् उपक्षीणात् सनातनात् तस्माद् यूयं विरजस्का वितमस्काश् च भो द्विजाः
Therefore, O Brāhmaṇas, you are pure and free from stains, having emerged from that unfathomable, unmanifest, eternal state.
एवं मया मुनिश्रेष्ठाः सारात् सारतरं परम् कथितं परमं मोक्षं यं ज्ञात्वा न निवर्तते
Thus, O best of sages, I have spoken the essence and the most essential supreme liberation, knowing which one does not return.
न नास्तिकाय दातव्यं नाभक्ताय कदाचन न दुष्टमतये विप्रा न श्रद्धाविमुखाय च
It should not be given to an atheist, nor ever to one without devotion, nor to one with a wicked mind, O Brāhmaṇas, nor to one lacking faith.
एवं पुरा मुनीन् व्यासः पुराणं श्लक्ष्णया गिरा दशाष्टदोषरहितैर् वाक्यैः सारतरैर् द्विजाः
Thus, in ancient times, Vyāsa recited the Purāṇa to the sages with gentle speech, using statements free from ten and eight faults, and most essential, O Brāhmaṇas.
पूर्णम् अस्तमलैः शुद्धैर् नानाशास्त्रसमुच्चयैः जातिशुद्धसमायुक्तं साधुशब्दोपशोभितम्
It was complete, spotless, pure, a collection of various scriptures, endowed with purity of lineage, adorned with noble words.
पूर्वपक्षोक्तिसिद्धान्तपरिनिष्ठासमन्वितम् श्रावयित्वा यथान्यायं विरराम महामतिः
It was accompanied by the expression of opposing views, established conclusions, and proper completion; after reciting it according to law, the great-minded one ceased.
ते ऽपि श्रुत्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठाः पुराणं वेदसंमितम् आद्यं ब्राह्माभिधानं च सर्ववाञ्छाफलप्रदम्
Having heard the Purāṇa, which accords with the Vedas, and the original Brahma-named scripture, which grants all desired fruits, the best of sages also listened.
हृष्टा बभूवुः सुप्रीता विस्मिताश् च पुनः पुनः प्रशशंसुस् तदा व्यासं कृष्णद्वैपायनं मुनिम्
They became delighted, very pleased, and again and again astonished; then they praised Vyasa, the sage Krishna-Dvaipayana.
अहो त्वया मुनिश्रेष्ठ पुराणं श्रुतिसंमितम् सर्वाभिप्रेतफलदं सर्वपापहरं परम्
Ah! O best of sages, you have recited the Purana, in accord with the Vedas, which grants all desired fruits and utterly removes all sins.
प्रोक्तं श्रुतं तथास्माभिर् विचित्रपदम् अक्षरम् न ते ऽस्त्य् अविदितं किंचित् त्रिषु लोकेषु वै प्रभो
It has been spoken and heard by us, with its wondrous words and syllables; O lord, there is nothing unknown to you in the three worlds.
सर्वज्ञस् त्वं महाभाग देवेष्व् इव बृहस्पतिः नमस्यामो महाप्राज्ञं ब्रह्मिष्ठं त्वां महामुनिम्
You are all-knowing, O greatly fortunate one, like Brihaspati among the gods; we bow to you, O supremely wise, most Brahmanical, great sage.
येन त्वया तु वेदार्था भारते प्रकटीकृताः कः शक्नोति गुणान् वक्तुं तव सर्वान् महामुने
By you, the meanings of the Vedas have been made manifest in the Bharata; who is able to recount all your virtues, O great sage?
अधीत्य चतुरो वेदान् साङ्गान् व्याकरणानि च कृतवान् भारतं शास्त्रं तस्मै ज्ञानात्मने नमः
Having studied the four Vedas with their branches and the grammars as well, you composed the scripture of the Bharata; to that embodiment of knowledge, we offer homage.