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,
वाचकाय प्रदद्याच्च परं रत्नाङ्गुलीयकम् । सूक्ष्मवस्त्रं च माल्यं च स्वर्णकुण्डलमुत्तमम्
Should give to the reciter a precious jeweled ring, fine cloth, a garland, and an excellent golden earring.
माल्यं च वरदोलां च सुपक्वं क्षीरमेव च । सर्वस्वं दक्षिणां दद्यात्स्तवनं कुरुते ध्रुवम्
A garland, a splendid swing, well-cooked milk—he should give all his wealth as a gift, and certainly offer praise.
शतकं ब्राह्मणानां च भोजयेत्परमादरात् । ब्रह्मणं वैष्णवं शास्त्रनिष्णातं पण्डितं वरम्
He should feed a hundred brahmins with great respect, especially one who is learned, versed in Vaishnava scriptures, and an excellent scholar.
कुरुते वाचकं शुद्धमन्यथा निष्फलं भवेत् । श्रीकृष्ण विमुखाद्दुष्टान्नोपदिष्टाच्च ब्राह्मणात्
He should appoint a pure reciter; otherwise, it becomes fruitless—especially if instructed by a brahmin who is hostile to Krishna or impure.
श्रीकृष्णभक्तियुक्तं च पुराणं यः शृणोति च । भक्तिं पुण्यं न लभते हन्ति पुण्यं पुराकृतम्
Whoever listens to the Purana endowed with devotion to Krishna does not obtain devotion or merit; he destroys the merit previously acquired.
श्रीकृष्णभक्तियुक्ताच्च पुराणं यः शृणोति च । भक्तिं पुण्यं च लभते यात्यन्ते श्रोहरेः पदम्
But whoever listens to the Purana endowed with devotion to Krishna obtains devotion and merit, and at the end attains the abode of Hari.
एतत्ते कथितं सर्व यच्छ्रु तं गुरुवक्त्रतः । बिदायं देहि विप्रेन्द्र यामि नारायणाश्रमम्
All this has been told to you, as heard from the mouth of the guru; O foremost of brahmins, grant me leave, for I go to the hermitage of Narayana.
दृष्ट्वा विप्रसमूहं च नमस्कर्तुं समागतः । कथितं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं भवतामाज्ञया परम्
Seeing the assembly of brahmins who have come to offer their respects, I have recounted the Brahma-vaivarta by your supreme command.
नमोऽस्तु ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च कृष्णाय परमात्मने । शिवाय ब्रह्मणे नित्यं गणेशाय नमो नमः
Salutations to the brahmins, to Krishna the Supreme Soul, to Shiva, to Brahma always, and repeated salutations to Ganesha.
कायेन मनसा वाचा परं भक्त्या दिवानिशम् । भज सत्यं परं ब्रह्म राधेशं त्रिगुणात्परम्
By body, mind, and speech, with supreme devotion day and night, worship the Supreme Truth, the Supreme Brahman, Lord of Radha, who is beyond the three qualities.
नमो देव्यै सरस्वत्यै पुराणगुरवे नमः । सर्वविघ्नविनाशिन्यै दुर्गादेव्यै नमो नमः
Salutations to the goddess Sarasvatī, the ancient preceptor; salutations to Durgā, destroyer of all obstacles—again and again, I bow.
युष्माकं पादद्मानि दृष्ट्वा पुण्यानि शौनक । अद्य सिद्धाश्रमं यामि यत्र देवो गणेश्वरः
Having seen your lotus feet, so auspicious, O Śaunaka, today I go to Siddhāśrama, where the lord Gaṇeśvara dwells.
इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्ते महापुराणे श्रीकृष्णजन्मखण्ड उत्तरार्धे नारदनारयणसंवादे सूतशौनकसंवादे त्रयस्त्रिंदशधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the great Purāṇa Śrī Brahmavaivarta, in the section on the birth of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, in the second half, in the dialogue of Nārada and Nārāyaṇa, and in the dialogue of Sūta and Śaunaka, this is the one hundred thirty-third chapter.
नारद उवाच अधुना प्रकृतीनां च व्यासं वर्णय भो प्रभो
Nārada said: Now, O Lord, please describe the origin of the Prakṛtis.
कस्याः पूजा कृता केन कथं मर्त्ये प्रका शिता
Whose worship was performed, by whom, and how was it made manifest among mortals?
कवचं स्तोत्रकं ध्यानं प्रभावं चरितं शुभम्
Their protective mantra, hymn, meditation, power, and auspicious deeds—
नारायण उवाच सावित्री वै सृष्टिविधौ प्रकृतिः पञ्चधा स्मृता
Nārāyaṇa said: Sāvitrī, in the act of creation, is remembered as Prakṛti in five forms.
आसीत्पूज्या प्रसिद्धा च प्रभावः परमाद्भुतः
She was worshipped, renowned, and her power was supremely wondrous.
प्रकृत्यंशाः कला याश्च तासां च चरितं शुभम्
The portions and aspects of Prakṛti, and their auspicious deeds—
वाणी वसुन्धरा गङ्गा षष्ठी मङ्गलच ण्डिका
Vāṇī, Vasundharā, Gaṅgā, Ṣaṣṭhī, and Maṅgalacaṇḍikā—