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.
नमो ऽस्तु ते व्यास विशालबुद्धे फुल्लारविन्दायतपत्त्रनेत्र येन त्वया भारततैलपूर्णः प्रज्वालितो ज्ञानमयः प्रदीपः
Homage to you, Vyasa, of vast intellect, whose eyes are like the petals of a fully-bloomed lotus; by whom the lamp of knowledge, filled with the oil of the Bharata, has been kindled.
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धानां भ्रामितानां कुदृष्टिभिः ज्ञानाञ्जनशलाकेन त्वया चोन्मीलिता दृशः
For those blinded by the darkness of ignorance, whose vision is confused, by you their eyes have been opened with the collyrium-stick of knowledge.
एवम् उक्त्वा समभ्यर्च्य व्यासं ते चैव पूजिताः जग्मुर् यथागतं सर्वे कृतकृत्याः स्वम् आश्रमम्
Having spoken thus and having duly worshipped Vyasa, they, having been honored, all departed to their own hermitages, their tasks accomplished.
तथा मया मुनिश्रेष्ठा कथितं हि सनातनम् पुराणं सुमहापुण्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
Thus, O best of sages, I have recounted the ancient Purana, supremely meritorious and the destroyer of all sins.
यथा भवद्भिः पृष्टो ऽहं संप्रश्नं द्विजसत्तमाः व्यासप्रसादात् तत् सर्वं मया संपरिकीर्तितम्
As you all, O best of twice-born, questioned me, by Vyasa's grace I have narrated all of this in full.
इदं गृहस्थैः श्रोतव्यं यतिभिर् ब्रह्मचारिभिः धनसौख्यप्रदं नॄणां पवित्रं पापनाशनम्
This should be heard by householders, ascetics, and students; it bestows wealth and happiness on people, purifies, and destroys sin.
तथा ब्रह्मपरैर् विप्रैर् ब्राह्मणाद्यैः सुसंयतैः श्रोतव्यं सुप्रयत्नेन सम्यक् श्रेयोभिकाङ्क्षिभिः
Likewise, it should be heard with great effort by Brahmins devoted to Brahman, by Brahmins and others who are well-restrained, and by those who seek the highest good.
प्राप्नोति ब्राह्मणो विद्यां क्षत्रियो विजयं रणे वैश्यस् तु धनम् अक्षय्यं शूद्रः सुखम् अवाप्नुयात्
A Brahmin attains knowledge, a Kshatriya victory in battle, a Vaishya inexhaustible wealth, and a Shudra obtains happiness.
यं यं कामम् अभिध्यायञ् शृणोति पुरुषः शुचिः तं तं कामम् अवाप्नोति नरो नास्त्य् अत्र संशयः
Whatever desire a pure person listens for, contemplating it, that very desire he attains—of this there is no doubt.
पुराणं वैष्णवं त्व् एतत् सर्वकिल्बिषनाशनम् विशिष्टं सर्वशास्त्रेभ्यः पुरुषार्थोपपादकम्
This Vaishnava Purana destroys all sins; it surpasses all other scriptures and brings about the aims of human life.