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—
संकल्पतो यः शृणोति भक्त्या दत्त्वा च दक्षिणाम् । यद्बाल्ये यच्चकौमारे वार्धके यच्च यौवने
—who listens with resolve, devotion, and gives a gift, whether in childhood, youth, old age, or adulthood—
कोटिजन्मार्जितात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः । रत्ननिर्माणयानेन धृत्वा श्रीकृष्णरूपकम्
—is freed from sins accumulated over millions of births, without doubt, by holding an image of Shri Krishna made of gems.
नित्यं गत्वा च गोलोकं कृष्णदास्यं लभेद्भूवम् । असंख्यब्रह्मणां पाते न भवेत्तस्य पातनम्
By continually reaching Goloka, one attains the service of Krishna; even at the dissolution of countless universes, there is no downfall for him.
समीपे पार्षदो भूत्वा सेवां च कुरुते चिरम् । श्रुत्वा च ब्रह्मखण्डं च सुस्नातः संयतः शुचिः
Becoming an attendant nearby, he serves for a long time; having listened to the Brahma-khanda, well-bathed, self-controlled, and pure.
पायसं पिष्टकं चैव फलं ताम्बूलमेव च । भोजयित्वा वाचकं च तस्मै दद्यात्सुवर्णकम्
Having offered rice pudding, cakes, fruits, and betel leaves, he should feed the reciter and give him gold.
चन्दनं शुक्लमाल्यं च सूक्ष्मवस्त्रं मनोहरम् । निवेद्य वासुदेवं च वाचकाय प्रदीयते
Sandalwood, white garlands, fine and charming cloth—having offered these to Vasudeva, they are given to the reciter.
श्रुत्वा च प्रकृतेः खण्डं सुश्राव्यं च सुधोपमम् । भोजयित्वा च दध्यन्नं तस्मै दद्याच्च
Having listened to the delightful and nectar-like Prakriti-khanda, and having fed him curd-rice, he should also give (gifts).
सवत्सां सुरभिं रम्यां दद्याद्वै भक्तिपूर्वकम् । श्रुत्वा गणपतेः खण्डं विघ्ननाशाय संयतः
With devotion, he should give a beautiful Surabhi cow with a calf; having listened to the Ganesha-khanda, self-controlled, for the removal of obstacles.
स्वर्णयज्ञोपवीतं च श्वेताश्वच्छत्रमाल्यकम् । प्रदीयते वायकाय स्वस्तिकं तिललड्डुकम्
A golden sacred thread, a white horse, a parasol, and a garland—these are given to the reciter, along with a swastika and sesame sweets.
परिपक्वफलान्येव कालदेशोद्भवानि च । श्रीकृष्णजन्मखण्डं च श्रुत्वा भक्तश्च भक्तितः
Fully ripened fruits, produced according to time and place—having listened to the Krishna-janma-khanda, the devotee, with devotion,