श्रीदुर्गादेव्यै नमः श्रीमद्देवीभागवतमाहात्म्यम् सृष्टी या सर्गरूपा जगदवनविधौ पालिनी या च रौद्री संहारे चापि यस्या जगदिदमखिलं क्रीडनं याऽपराख्या । पश्यन्ती मध्यमाऽथो तदनु भगवती वैखरीवर्णरूपा साऽस्मद्वाचं प्रसन्ना विधिहरिगिरिशाराधिताऽलङ्करोतु
Salutations to the blessed Goddess Durgā. May that Divine Mother—who is creation in the form of the universe, who is the protector during its preservation, who is fierce at the time of dissolution, for whom this entire world is but a play, who is known as Aparā, who is perceived as Paśyantī, Madhyamā, and then as the supreme Goddess in the form of spoken words—may She, worshipped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva, graciously adorn our speech.
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
Having bowed to Nārāyaṇa, to Nara the supreme man, to the Goddess Sarasvatī, and to Vyāsa, then one should proclaim victory.
ऋषय ऊचुः। सूत जीव समा बह्वीर्यस्त्वं श्रावयसीह नः । कथा मनोहराः पुण्या व्यासशिष्य महामते
The sages said: O Sūta, you are long-lived and mighty; please narrate to us here the delightful and sacred stories, O wise disciple of Vyāsa.
सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं विष्णोश्चरितमद्भुतम् । अवतार कथोपेतमस्माभिर्भक्तितः श्रुतम्
We have devoutly heard the wondrous and sacred deeds of Viṣṇu, which remove all sins and are filled with stories of his incarnations.
शिवस्य चरितं दिव्यं भस्मरुद्राक्षयोस्तथा । सेतिहासं च माहात्म्यं श्रुतं तव मुखाम्बुजात्
We have also heard from your lotus mouth the divine deeds of Śiva, the greatness of ash and rudrākṣa, along with their histories and glories.
अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामः पावनात्पावनं परम् । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं नॄणामनायासेन सर्वशः
Now we wish to hear that which is the most purifying of all, which bestows both enjoyment and liberation upon people, and is attained effortlessly in every way.
तत्त्वं ब्रूहि महाभाग येन सिद्ध्यन्ति मानवाः । कलावपि वरं त्वत्तो न विद्यः संशयच्छिदम्
O most fortunate one, speak to us of that truth by which people attain success; in this age of Kali, there is no greater knowledge from you that dispels doubt.
सूत उवाच। साधु पृष्टं महाभागा लोकानां हितकाम्यया । सर्वशास्त्रस्य यत्सारं तो वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः
Sūta said: You have asked well, O blessed ones, out of desire for the welfare of the worlds; I shall now fully declare to you the essence of all the scriptures.
तावद्गर्जन्ति तीर्थानि पुराणानि व्रतानि च । यावन्न श्रूयते सम्यग्देवीभागवतं नरैः
So long as the Devī Bhāgavata is not properly heard by people, the holy places, Purāṇas, and vows merely thunder in vain.
तावत्पापाटवी नॄणां क्लेशदाऽदभ्रकण्टका । यावन्न परशुः प्राप्तो देवीभागवताभिधः
So long as the axe named Devī Bhāgavata has not been obtained, the forest of sins, full of countless thorns of suffering, remains for people.
तावत्क्लेशावहं नॄणामुपसर्गमहातमः । यावन्नैवोदयं प्राप्तो देवीभागवतोष्णगुः
So long as the sun of the Devī Bhāgavata has not risen, the great darkness of afflictions, which brings suffering to people, persists.
ऋषय ऊचुः। सूत सूत महाभाग वद नो वदतांवर । कीदृशं तत्पुरायणं हि विधिस्तच्छ्रवणे च कः
The sages said: O Sūta, O most blessed one, best among speakers, tell us—what is that recitation, and what is the procedure for hearing it?
कतिभिर्वासरैरेतच्छ्रोतव्यं किं च पूजनम् । कैर्मानवैः श्रुतं पूर्वं कान्कान्कामानवाप्नुयुः
In how many days should it be heard? What worship is required? By which people was it heard before, and what desires did they attain?
सूत उवाच। विष्णोरंशो मुनिर्जातः सत्यवत्यां पराशरात् । विभज्य वेदांश्चतुरः शिष्यानध्यापयत्पुरा
Sūta said: The sage, a portion of Viṣṇu, was born to Satyavatī through Parāśara; having divided the Vedas into four, he formerly taught them to his disciples.
व्रात्यानां द्विजबन्धूनां वेदेष्वनधिकारिणाम् । स्त्रीणां दुर्मेधसां नॄणां धर्मज्ञानं कथं भवेत्
How could those who are outcastes, the twice-born who are unfit for the Vedas, women, those of dull intellect, and men in general, attain knowledge of dharma?
विचार्यैतत्तु मनसा भगवान्बादरायणः । पुराणं संहितां दध्यौ तेषां धर्मविधित्सया
Reflecting on this in his mind, the venerable Bādarāyaṇa, desiring to establish dharma for them, conceived the collection of the Purāṇas.
अष्टादश पुराणानि स कृत्वा भगवान्मुनिः । मामेवाध्यापयामास भारताख्यानमेव च
The blessed sage composed eighteen Purāṇas, and he taught them to me, as well as the work known as the Bhārata.
देवीभागवतं तत्र पुराणं भोगमोक्षदम् । स्वयं तु श्रावयामास जनमेजयभूपतिम्
Among them, the Devī Bhāgavata Purāṇa, which bestows both enjoyment and liberation, he himself recited to King Janamejaya.
पूर्वं यस्य पिता राजा परीक्षित्तक्षकाहिना । संदष्टस्तस्य संशुद्ध्यै राज्ञा भागवतं श्रुतम्
Previously, whose father was the king Parikṣit, bitten by Takṣaka the serpent; for his purification, the king listened to the Bhāgavata.
नवभिर्दिवसै: श्रीमद्वेदव्यासमुखाम्बुजात् । त्रैलोक्यमातरं देवीं पूजयित्वा विधानतः
For nine days, having worshipped the Mother of the three worlds, the Goddess, according to the prescribed rites, from the lotus mouth of Śrīmad Vedavyāsa,
नवाह यज्ञे सम्पूर्णे परीक्षिदपि भूपतिः । दिव्यरूपधरो देव्याः सालोक्यं तत्क्षणादगात्
When the nine-day sacrifice was completed, King Parikṣit, too, attained, at that very moment, the divine abode of the Goddess, bearing a celestial form.
पितुर्दिव्यां गति राजा विलोक्य जनमेजयः । व्यासं मुनिं समभ्यर्च्य परां मुदमवाप ह
Seeing his father's divine journey, King Janamejaya, having worshipped the sage Vyāsa, attained supreme joy.
अष्टादशपुराणानां मध्ये सर्वोत्तमं परम् । देवीभागवतं नाम धर्मकामार्थमोक्षदम्
Among the eighteen Purāṇas, the most excellent and supreme is the Devī Bhāgavata, which bestows dharma, desire, and liberation.
ये शृण्वन्ति सदा भक्त्या देव्या भागवतीं कथाम् । तेषां सिद्धिर्न दूरस्था तस्मात्सेव्या सदा नृभिः
Those who always listen with devotion to the story of the Goddess Bhāgavata, for them perfection is not far away; therefore, it should always be served by people.
दिनमर्द्धं तदर्धं वा मुहूर्तं क्षणमेव वा । ये शृण्वन्ति नरा भक्त्या न तेषां दुर्गतिः क्वचित् ॥ सर्वयज्ञेषु तीर्थेषु सर्वदानेषु यत्फलम् । सकृत्पुराणश्रवणात्तत्फलं लभते नरः
Whether for half a day, a quarter, a moment, or even an instant, those who listen with devotion never meet misfortune anywhere. The fruit gained from all sacrifices, pilgrimages, and donations is attained by a person from hearing the Purāṇa even once.
कृता दो बहवो धर्माः कलौ धर्मस्तु केवलम् । पुराणश्रवणादन्यो विद्यते नापरो नृणाम्
Many righteous acts were performed in the past, but in the age of Kali, righteousness is solely from hearing the Purāṇa; for people, there is no other way.
धर्माचारविहीनानां कलावल्पायुषां नृणाम् । व्यासो हिताय विदधे पुराणाख्यं सुधारसम्
For those lacking in righteous conduct, whose lives are short in Kali, Vyāsa composed the nectar-like Purāṇa for their welfare.
सुधां पिबन्नेक एव नरः स्यादजरामरः । देव्याः कथामृतं कुर्यात्कुलमेवाजरामरम्
By drinking nectar, a person alone becomes ageless and immortal; by the nectar of the Goddess's story, one's entire lineage becomes ageless and immortal.
मासानां नियमो नात्र दिनानां नियमोऽपि न । सदा सेव्यं सदा सेव्यं देवीभागवतं नरैः
There is no restriction of months here, nor even of days; the Devī Bhāgavata should always be served, always be served by people.
आश्विने मधुमासे वा तपोमासे शुचौ तथा । चतुर्षु नवरात्रेषु विशेषात्फलदायकम्
In the month of Āśvina, or in the month of Madhu, or in the pure month of Tapas, especially during the four Navarātris, it is most fruitful.