इतिहासो भारतं च वान्मीकं काव्यमेव च । पञ्चकं पञ्चरात्राणां कृष्णमाहात्म्यपूर्वकम्
The Itihāsa, the Mahābhārata, and the poetry of Vālmīki, along with the five Pañcarātras, are uniquely devoted to the glory of Krishna.
वसिष्ठं नारदीयं च कापिलं गौतमीयकम् । परं सनत्कुमारीयं पञ्चरात्रं च पञ्चकम्
The Vasiṣṭha, Nārada, Kapila, and Gautamīya, as well as the Sanatkumāra Pañcarātra, form the five Pañcarātras.
पञ्चकं सहितानां च कृष्णभक्तिसमन्वितम् । ब्रह्मणाश्च शिवस्यापि प्रह्लादस्य तथैव च
These five, together with those devoted to Krishna, are associated with Brahma, Shiva, Prahlada, Gautama, and Kumara.
गौतमस्य कुमारस्य संहिताः परिकीर्तिताः । इति ते कथितं सर्व क्रमेण च पृथक्पृथक्
The collections of Gautama and Kumara are also mentioned; thus, everything has been described to you, in order and separately.
अस्त्येवं विपुलं शास्त्रं ममापि च यथागमम् । उवाचेदं पुराणं च गोलोके रासमण्डले
Such is the vast scripture, as transmitted to me; this Purana was spoken in Goloka, within the circle of the rasa dance.
श्रीकृष्णो भगवान्साक्षाद्ब्रह्माणं च स्वभक्तकम् । ब्रह्मा धर्म च धर्मिष्ठं धर्मो नारायणं मुनिम्
The blessed Krishna himself spoke it to Brahma, his devotee; Brahma spoke it to Dharma, the righteous, and Dharma to the sage Narayana.
नारायणो नारदं च नारदो मां च भक्तकम् । अहं त्वां च मुनिश्रेष्ठ वरिष्ठं कथयामि तत्
Narayana spoke it to Narada, Narada to me, his devotee; and I, O foremost sage, now recount it to you, the most distinguished.
सुदर्लभं पुराणं च ब्रह्मवैवर्तमीप्सितम् । यद्वृणोत्येव विश्वौघं जीविनां परमात्मकम्
This Brahmavaivarta Purana, rare and desired, is sought by all living beings as the supreme soul.
तद्ब्रह्म साक्षिरूपं च कर्मणामेव कर्मिणाम् । तद्ब्रह्म विवृतं यत्र तद्विभूतिमनुत्तमाम्
That Brahman is manifest as the witness of actions and of those who act; where Brahman is revealed, there its supreme glory shines.
तेनेदं ब्रह्मवैवर्तमित्येवं च बिदुर्बुधाः । पुण्यप्रदं पुराणं च मङ्गलं मङ्गलप्रदम्
Therefore, this is called the Brahmavaivarta Purana, as the wise know; it is a sacred Purana, bestowing auspiciousness and blessings.
सुगोप्यं च रहस्यं च यत्र रम्यं नवं नवम् । हरिभक्तिप्रदं चैव दुर्लभं हरिदास्यदम्
It is most secret and confidential, ever delightful and ever new; it grants devotion to Hari and is rare, bestowing service to Hari.
सुखदं ब्रह्मदं सारं शोकसंतापनाशनम् । सरितां च यथा गङ्गा सद्यो मुक्तिप्रदा शुभा
It brings happiness, gives Brahman, is the essence, and destroys sorrow and distress; just as the Ganga among rivers instantly grants auspicious liberation.
तिर्थातां पुष्करं शुद्धं यथा काशी पुरीषु च । सर्वेषु भारतं वर्षं सद्यो मुक्तिप्रदं शुभम्
Just as Pushkara is the purest among holy places, and Kashi among cities; so, throughout the land of Bharata, it instantly grants auspicious liberation.
यथा सुमेरुः शैलेषु पारिजातं च पुष्पतः । पत्रेषु तुलसीपत्रं व्रतेष्वेकादशीव्रतम्
As Sumeru is the greatest among mountains, and Parijata among flowers; among leaves, the tulasi leaf, and among vows, the Ekadashi vow.
वृक्षेषु कल्पवृक्षश्च श्रीकृष्णश्च सुरेषु च । ज्ञानीन्द्रेषु महादेवो योगीन्द्रेषु गणेश्वरः
Among trees, the wish-fulfilling tree; among gods, Shri Krishna; among wise lords, Mahadeva; among yogis, Ganesha is chief.
सिद्धेन्द्रेष्वेव कपिलः सूर्यस्तेजस्विनां यथा । सनत्कुमारो भगवान्वैष्णवेषु यथाऽग्रणीः
Among accomplished sages, Kapila; among radiant ones, the Sun; among Vaishnavas, the venerable Sanatkumara is foremost.
भूपेषु च यथा रामो लक्ष्मणश्च धनुष्मताम् । देवीषु च यथा दुर्गा महापुण्यवती सती
Among kings, Rama and Lakshmana are preeminent among archers; among goddesses, Durga and the supremely virtuous Sati.
प्राणाधिका यथा राधा कृष्णस्य प्रेयसीषु च । ईश्वरीषु यथा लक्ष्मीः पण्डितेषु सरस्वती
Among beloveds, Radha is dearest to Krishna; among divine consorts, Lakshmi; among scholars, Sarasvati.
तथा सर्वपुराणेषु ब्रह्मवैवर्तमेव च । नातो दिशिष्टं सुखदं मधुरं च सुपुण्यदम्
Likewise, among all Puranas, the Brahmavaivarta alone is distinguished; none other is so delightful, sweet, and supremely auspicious.
संदेहभञ्जनं चैव पुराणं परिकीर्तितम् । इह लोके च सुखदं सुप्रदं सर्वसंपदाम्
This Purana is proclaimed as the destroyer of doubts; in this world, it bestows happiness and grants all prosperity.
शुभदं पुण्यदं चैव विघ्ननिघ्नकरं परम् । हरिदास्यप्रदं चैव परलोके प्रहर्षदम्
It brings auspiciousness and merit, utterly removes obstacles, grants service to Hari, and gives supreme joy in the next world.
यज्ञानामपि तीर्थानां व्रतानां तपसां तथा । भुवः प्रदक्षिणस्यापि फलं नास्य समानकम्
Even the fruits of sacrifices, pilgrimages, vows, austerities, or circumambulating the earth are not equal to its reward.
चतुर्णामपि वेदानां पाठादपि वरं फलम् । श्रृणोतीदं पुराणं च संयतश्चेह पुत्रक
The best fruit from reciting all four Vedas is surpassed by hearing this Purana, O child, with self-restraint.
गुणवन्तं च विद्वांसं वैष्णवं पुत्रमालभेत् । श्रृणोति दुर्भगा चेत्तु सौभाग्यं स्वामिनो लभेत्
One should seek a virtuous, learned, Vaishnava son; even if an unfortunate person hears it, he attains the fortune of his master.
मृतवत्सा काकवन्ध्या महावन्ध्या च पापिनी । पुराणश्रवणाल्लेभे पुत्रं च चिरचीविनम्
A woman whose children have died, or who is barren, or greatly infertile, or sinful, by hearing the Purana, obtains a long-lived son.
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रमभार्यो लभते प्रियाम् । अस्पष्टकीर्तिः सुयशा मूर्खो भवति पण्डितः
The childless gains a son, the unmarried finds a beloved; one of unclear fame becomes renowned, and the ignorant becomes wise.
रोगार्तो मुच्यते रोगाद्बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात् । भयान्मुच्येत भीतस्तु मुच्येतापन्न आपदः
The sick are freed from illness, the bound are released from captivity, the fearful are freed from fear, and the afflicted are freed from distress.
अरण्ये ब्रान्तरे भीतो दावाग्नो मुच्यते ध्रुवम् । अघं कुष्ठं च दारिद्र्यं रोगं शोकं च दारुणम्
One lost and afraid in the forest is certainly freed from wildfire; sin, leprosy, poverty, disease, and severe sorrow are dispelled.
पुण्यवान्श्रवणादेव नैव जानात्यपुण्यवान् । श्लोकार्ध श्लोकपादं वा यः शृणोति सुसंयतः
By hearing, the virtuous alone benefit; the unvirtuous do not. Whoever listens attentively to even half a verse or a quarter of a verse—
गोलक्षदानपुण्यं च लभते नात्र संशयः । युतुःखडं पुराणं च शुद्धकाले जितेन्द्रियः
—gains the merit of giving a cow; there is no doubt. One who listens to the Purana at a pure time, with controlled senses—