निगूढं जन्म येषां वा देवानां देवयोषिताम्
The secret births of those gods and goddesses,
के वांऽशाः प्रकृतेश्चापि कलाः का वा कलाकलाः
Who are the portions, and what are the aspects of Prakriti, and what are the sub-aspects?
दुर्गा सरस्वती लक्ष्मी सावित्रीणाञ्च वर्णनम्
The description of Durgā, Sarasvatī, Lakṣmī, and Sāvitrī,
जीवकर्मविपाकश्च नरकाणाञ्च वर्णनम्
And the results of actions for living beings, and the description of the hells,
येषाञ्च जीविनां यद्यत्स्थानं यत्र शुभाशुभम्
And for those living beings, whatever place, whether auspicious or inauspicious, they attain,
जीविनां कर्मणो यस्माद्योयो रोगो भवेदिह
From which action of living beings, what disease arises here,
मनसा तुलसी काली गङ्गा पृध्वी वसुन्धरा
Tulasī, Kālī, Gaṅgā, Pṛthvī, and Vasundharā, in the mind,
शालिग्रामशिलानाञ्च दानानाञ्च निरूपणम्
And the explanation of Śāligram stones and of gifts,
गणेश्वरस्य चरितं यत्र तज्जन्म कर्म च
Where the deeds of Lord Gaṇeśa, his birth and actions, are described,
यदपूर्वमुपाख्यानमश्रुतं परमाद्भुतम् 1.1.
And whatever unprecedented tale, unheard and supremely wonderful,
यत्र जन्म भ्रमो विश्वे पुण्यक्षेत्रे च भारते
Where the birth and wandering in the universe, and in the holy land of Bhārata,
जन्म कस्य गृहे लब्धं पुण्ये पुण्यवतो मुने
O sage, whose birth occurred in which house, in a holy and virtuous place,
आविर्भूय च तद्गेहात्क्वागतः केन हेतुना
Having appeared from that house, where did he go, and for what reason,
भारावतरणं केन प्रार्थितो गोश्चकार सः
By whom was the descent to lighten the earth requested, and what did he do for the cow,
इतीदमन्यदाख्यानं पुराणं श्रुतिदुर्लभम्
Thus, this other ancient tale, rare even in the Vedas,
स्वज्ञानाद्यन्मया पृष्टमपृष्टं वा शुभाशुभम्
Whatever good or bad I have asked or not asked, according to my own knowledge,
शिष्यपृष्टमपृष्टं वा व्याख्यानं कुरुते च यः
Whoever gives an explanation to a disciple, whether asked or unasked,
सौतिरुवाच सिद्धक्षेत्रादागतोऽहं यामि नारायणाश्रमम्
Sūta said: I have come from the sacred field and am going to the hermitage of Nārāyaṇa.
दृष्ट्वा विप्रसमूहं च नमस्कर्तुमिहागतः
Having seen the assembly of brāhmaṇas, I have come here to offer my respects.
देवं विप्रं गुरुं दृष्ट्वा न नमेद्यस्तु संभ्रमात् 1.1.
He who, upon seeing a deity, a brāhmaṇa, or a guru, does not bow due to confusion—
हरिर्ब्राह्मणरूपेक्षण शश्वद् भ्रमति भूतले
Hari constantly wanders the earth in the form of a brāhmaṇa, O Śaunaka.
भगवन्यत्त्वया पृष्टं ज्ञातं सर्वमभीप्सितम्
O blessed one, all that you have asked has been fully known and desired.
पुराणोपपुराणानां वेदानां भ्रमभञ्जनम्
This dispels the doubts of the Purāṇas, Upapurāṇas, and the Vedas.
कामिनां कामदं चेदं मुमुक्षूणां च मोक्षदम्
This grants desires to those who seek pleasure, and liberation to those who seek release.
ब्रह्मखण्डं सर्वबीजं परब्रह्मनिरूपणम्
The Brahma section is the seed of all, and the exposition of the Supreme Brahman.
वैष्णवा योगिनः सन्तो न च भिन्नाश्च शौनक
Vaiṣṇavas, yogis, and the virtuous, O Śaunaka, are not different from one another.
सन्तो भवन्ति सत्सङ्गाद्योगिसंगेन योगिनः
The virtuous become so through association with the good, and yogis through the company of yogis.
यत्रोद्भवश्च देवानां देवीनां सर्वजीविनाम्
There is described the origin of the gods, goddesses, and all living beings.
जीवकर्मविपाकश्च शालिग्रामनिरूपणम्
The results of actions for living beings, and the exposition of the Śālagrāma, are explained.
प्रकृतेर्लक्षणं तत्र कलांशानां निरूपणम् 1.1.
There, the characteristics of Prakṛti and the exposition of its portions and aspects are described.