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.
अङ्गानि धर्मशास्त्रं च व्रतानि नियमास्तथा
Its limbs, the Dharmaśāstra, the vows, and the disciplines as well—
महदादिविशेषान्तं सृजामीति विनिश्चयः
From the great principle to the particular, the resolve to create is declared.
अडस्यावरणं वार्धिरपामपि च तेजसा
The covering of the cosmic egg, the ocean, and the radiance of the waters—
भूतादिर्महता चैव अव्यक्तेनावृतो महान्
The elements, together with the great principle, and the great one enveloped by the unmanifest—
नदीनां पर्वतानां च प्रादुर्भावो ऽत्र पठ्यते
The origin of rivers and mountains is recounted here.
कीर्त्तनं ब्रह्मवृक्षस्य ब्रह्मजन्म प्रकीर्त्यते
The praise of the tree of Brahman and the narration of Brahmā’s birth are declared.
अवस्थाश्चात्र कीर्त्यन्ते ब्रह्मणो ऽव्यक्तजन्मनः
Here, too, are described the states of Brahmā, whose birth is from the unmanifest.
शयनं च हरेरप्सु पृथिव्युद्धरणं तथा
The resting of Hari upon the waters, and likewise the raising up of the earth—
ऋक्षाणां ग्रहसंस्थानां सिद्धानां च निवेशनम्
The constellations, the positions of the planets, and the abodes of the perfected beings—
स्वर्गस्थानविभागश्च सर्त्यानां शुभचारिणाम्
The division of the heavenly realms and the places of the virtuous dwellers in truth—