शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्वापि तथाध्यापयते ऽपि च
Whoever listens to this, causes it to be heard, or teaches it in the same way—
ब्रह्मसायुज्यगो भूत्वा ब्रह्मणा सह मोदते
Having attained union with Brahman, he rejoices together with Brahman.
प्रथयन्पृथिवीशानां ब्रह्मभूयाय गच्छति
Proclaiming the sovereignty of the earth, he attains the state of Brahman.
कृष्णद्वैपायनेनोक्तं पुराण ब्रह्मवादिना
This Purāṇa was spoken by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, the expounder of Brahman.
देवतानामृषीणां च भूरिद्रविमतेजसाम्
It is revered by the gods and sages, who possess great wealth and brilliance.
यश्चेदं श्रावयेद्विद्वान्सदा पर्वणि पर्वणि
And if a learned man recites this always, on every festival day—
यश्चेदं श्रावयेच्छ्राद्धे ब्राह्मणान् पादमन्ततः
Or if he recites this to Brāhmaṇas at a śrāddha, even a single verse—
यस्मात्पुरा ह्यणन्तीदं पुराणं तेन चोच्यते
Because this Purāṇa is ancient and endless, it is thus called so.
तथैव त्रिषु वर्णेषु ये मनुष्या अधीयते
In the same way, among the three classes, those men who study it—
यावन्त्यस्य शरीरेषु रोमकूपानि सर्वशः
For as many hair follicles as are on his body, in every one—
ब्रह्मसायुज्यगो भूत्वा दैवतैः सह मोदते
Having attained union with Brahman, he rejoices together with the gods.
ब्रह्मा ददौ शास्त्रमिदं पुराणं मातरिश्वने
Brahmā gave this Purāṇic scripture to Mātariśvan in ancient times.
बृहस्पतिस्तु प्रोवाच सवित्रे तदनन्तरम्
Then Bṛhaspati taught it to Savitṛ.
इन्द्रश्चापि वसिष्ठाय सो ऽपि सारस्वताय च
And Indra gave it to Vasiṣṭha, and he to Sārasvata.
शरद्वांस्तु त्रिविष्टाय सोंऽतरिक्षाय दत्तवान्
Śaradvān gave it to Triviṣṭha, and he to Antarikṣa.
त्रय्यारुणाद्धनञ्जयः स वै प्रादात्कृतञ्जये
From Trayyaruṇa, Dhanañjaya received it, and he gave it to Kṛtañjaya.
गौतमाय भरद्वाजः सो ऽपि निर्य्यन्तरे पुनः
Bharadvāja gave it to Gautama, and he again to Niryyantara.
स ददौ सोमशुष्माय स चादात्तृणबिन्दवे
He gave it to Somaśuṣma, and he received it by Ṛṇabindu.
शक्तेः पराशरश्चापि गर्भस्थः श्रुतवानिदम्
Even while in the womb, Parāśara heard this from Śakti.
द्वैपायना त्पुनश्चापि मया प्राप्तं द्विजोत्तम
And again, O best of twice-born, I received it from Dvaipāyana.
इत्येव वाक्यं ब्रह्मादिगुरुणां समुदात्दृतम्
Thus, this teaching was imparted by the guru beginning with Brahmā.
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुण्यं सर्वार्थसाधकम्
It is auspicious, brings fame, lengthens life, is meritorious, and fulfills all aims.
नाशुचौ नापि पापाय नाप्यसंवत्सरोषिते
It should not be given to the impure, nor to the sinful, nor to one who has not completed a year.
नाहिताय प्रदातव्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम्
This supreme and pure teaching must not be given to one who is not well-disposed.
वह्निर्वक्त्रं चन्द्रसूर्यौं च नेत्रेदिशः श्रोत्रे घ्राणमाहुश्च वायुम्
Fire is its mouth; moon and sun are its eyes; directions are its ears; wind is its nose, they say.
सर्वाणि द्यौर्मस्तकानि त्वथो वै विद्याश्चैवोपनिषद्यस्य पुच्छम्
All the heavens are its heads, and indeed, the Vedas and Upaniṣads are its tail.
वरं वराणां वरदं महेश्वरं ब्रह्माणमादिं प्रयतो नमस्ये
I bow with reverence to Brahmā, the supreme lord, the bestower of boons among those who grant boons.
पुण्ड्रेक्षुपाशाङ्कुशपुष्पबाणहस्ते नमस्ते जगदेकमातः
Salutations to you, the sole mother of the world, whose hands hold the lotus, sugarcane bow, noose, goad, and flower-arrows.
यतस्तृतीयो विदुषां तृतीयस्तु परं महः
From whom the third, the highest greatness, is known by the wise as the third.
सर्वसिद्धान्तसारज्ञो ब्रह्मानन्दरसात्मकः
Who knows the essence of all doctrines and is the very nature of the bliss of Brahman.