द्वैपायनाय प्रददौ परं ब्रह्म सनातनम्
He gave to Dvaipāyana the supreme, eternal Brahman.
लोकतत्त्वविधानार्थं पञ्चभ्यः परमाद्भुतम्
For the establishment of the true principles of the world, he gave the most wondrous to the five.
जैमिनिञ्च सुमन्तुं च वैशंपायनमेवच
To Jaimini, to Sumantu, and also to Vaiśampāyana.
सूतमद्भुतवृत्तान्तं विनीतं धार्मिकं श्रुचिम्
To Sūta, of wondrous deeds, humble, righteous, and pure in conduct.
ऋषिणा च त्वया पृष्टः कृतप्रज्ञः सुधार्मिकः
And by you, the sage, who are wise and supremely righteous, he was questioned.
भक्त्या परमया युक्तः कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्
Endowed with supreme devotion, having circumambulated as well.
सत्रे सवितते यत्र यजमानानृषीञ्शुचीन्
At the sacrifice with Savitṛ, where the sacrificers and sages were pure.
विधानतो यथाशास्त्रं प्रज्ञयातिजगाम ह
He proceeded, according to ordinance and as prescribed in the scriptures, with great wisdom.
दृष्ट्वा परमसंहृष्टाः प्रीताः सुमनसस्तथा
Seeing this, they were exceedingly delighted and filled with joy in their hearts.
अभिवाद्य मुनीन्सर्वान् राजाज्ञामभिगम्य च
Having saluted all the sages and approached the command of the king,
सदस्यानुमते रम्ये स्वास्तीर्णे समुपाविशत्
With the consent of the assembly, on the beautiful, well-spread seat, he sat down.
मुदान्विता यथान्यायं विनयस्थाः समाहिताः
Filled with happiness, properly composed, steadfast in humility and concentration,
परमप्रीतिसंयुक्ता इत्यूचुः सूतनन्दनम्
United in the highest joy, they spoke to the son of Sūta:
पश्याम धीमन्नत्रस्थाः सुब्रतं मुनिसत्तमम्
‘We wish to see here, O wise one, the most virtuous and eminent sage.
भवांस्तस्य मुनेः सूत व्यासस्यापि महात्मनः
You, O Sūta, are devoted to that sage and also to the great-souled Vyāsa.
कृतबुद्धिश्च ते तत्त्वमनुग्राह्यतया प्रभो
Your mind is determined, O lord, to bestow the true teaching out of compassion.
पृच्चतां नः सदा प्राज्ञ सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि
Whenever we ask, O wise one, you are worthy to tell us everything.
श्रोतुं धर्मार्थयुक्तां तु एतव्द्यासाच्छ्रुतं त्वया
We wish to hear, endowed with righteousness and purpose, what you have heard from Vyāsa.
उवाच परमाप्राक्ज्ञो विनीतोत्तर मुत्तमम्
He, supremely wise and modest in reply, spoke the highest teaching.
यस्माच्छुशूषणार्थं च तत्सत्यमिति निश्चयः
Because your intention is to listen, this is certainly true and settled.
जिज्ञासा यत्र युष्माकं तदाज्ञातुमिहार्हथ
Whatever you desire to know, you are worthy to learn here.
प्रत्यूचुस्ते पुनः सूतं बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणम्
Again they addressed Sūta, their eyes filled with tears.
तस्मात्त्वं संभवं कृत्स्नं लोकस्येमं विदर्शय
Therefore, show us entirely the origin of this world.
सत्कृत्य परिपृष्टः स महात्मा रोमहर्षणः
Thus respectfully questioned, the great-souled Romaharṣaṇa,
यो मे द्वैपायनप्रीतः कथां वै द्विजसत्तमाः
Who was pleased by Dvaipāyana, spoke to the best of the twice-born this story.
पुराणं संप्रवक्ष्यामि यदुक्तं मातरिश्वना
I shall now declare the Purāṇa as spoken by Mātariśvan.
सर्गश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च वंशो मन्वन्तराणि च
Creation, dissolution, genealogies, and the ages of Manus—
प्रक्रिया प्रथमः पादः कथायां स्यात्परिग्रहः
The process, the first section, and the collection of narratives—
एवं पादास्तु चत्वारः समासात्कींर्तिता मया
Thus, these four sections have been briefly described by me.
प्रथमं सर्वशास्त्राणां पुराणं ब्रह्मणा श्रुतम्
The Purāṇa was first heard by Brahmā among all the scriptures.