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.
एतद् वो यन् मयाख्यातं पुराणं वेदसंमितम् श्रुते ऽस्मिन् सर्वदोषोत्थः पापराशिः प्रणश्यति
This Purana, in accord with the Vedas, which I have declared to you—by hearing it, all heaps of sin arising from faults are destroyed.
प्रयागे पुष्करे चैव कुरुक्षेत्रे तथार्बुदे उपोष्य यद् अवाप्नोति तद् अस्य श्रवणान् नरः
Whatever one obtains by fasting at Prayaga, Pushkara, Kurukshetra, or Arbuda, that a man attains by hearing this.
यद् अग्निहोत्रे सुहुते वर्षे नाप्नोति वै फलम् महापुण्यमयं विप्रास् तद् अस्य श्रवणात् सकृत्
O Brahmins, the great and meritorious fruit that is not attained even by a well-performed Agnihotra sacrifice in a year is obtained simply by hearing this once.
यज् ज्येष्ठशुक्लद्वादश्यां स्नात्वा वै यमुनाजले मथुरायां हरिं दृष्ट्वा प्राप्नोति पुरुषः फलम्
The result that a person gains by bathing in the waters of the Yamuna at Mathura and beholding Hari on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Jyeshtha—
तद् आप्नोति फलं सम्यक् समाधानेन कीर्तनात् पुराणे ऽस्य हितो विप्राः केशवार्पितमानसः
That very fruit is fully attained by reciting this Purana with focused mind, having one's heart dedicated to Kesava, O Brahmins.
यत् फलं क्रियम् आलोक्य पुरुषो ऽथ लभेन् नरः तत् फलं समवाप्नोति यः पठेच् छृणुयाद् अपि
Whatever merit a person obtains by witnessing a sacred rite, that same merit is surely gained by one who reads or even hears this.
इदं यः श्रद्धया नित्यं पुराणं वेदसंमितम् यः पठेच् छृणुयान् मर्त्यः स याति भुवनं हरेः
Whoever, with faith, daily reads or hears this Purana, which accords with the Veda, that mortal attains the realm of Hari.
श्रावयेद् ब्राह्मणो यस् तु सदा पर्वसु संयतः एकादश्यां द्वादश्यां च विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति
A Brahmin who, self-controlled, causes this to be heard regularly on festival days, on the eleventh and twelfth lunar days, attains the world of Vishnu.
इदं यशस्यम् आयुष्यं सुखदं कीर्तिवर्धनम् बलपुष्टिप्रदं नॄणां धन्यं दुःस्वप्ननाशनम्
This is glorious, life-giving, bestows happiness, increases fame, grants strength and nourishment to people, brings fortune, and destroys evil dreams.
त्रिसंध्यं यः पठेद् विद्वाञ् श्रद्धया सुसमाहितः इदं वरिष्ठम् आख्यानं स सर्वम् ईप्सितं लभेत्
A learned one who, with faith and concentration, recites this excellent narrative at the three junctions of the day obtains all that he desires.