Just as the moon brings joy to all, as fame brings prosperity, as the earth stands firm for those who are patient, and as the ocean is unfathomably deep, so too is there a supreme among all things. Among mantras, it is Savitri that reigns above the rest; for the destruction of sin, nothing surpasses the remembrance of Hari; and among the eighteen Purāṇas, the Devī Bhāgavata shines as the foremost. If one listens to the Devī Bhāgavata by any means, even nine times, the blessings received are beyond description—such a person is liberated in this very life. For those seeking to ward off spirits and ghosts, reclaim kingdoms from enemies, or obtain sons, it is said that listening to the Devī Bhāgavata is the path, O twice-born. Even reciting or hearing a single verse, or just a half or quarter of a verse, of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata bestows the highest state. The Goddess herself first revealed half a verse, which, through disciples and their disciples, was expanded into the scripture we have today. There is no dharma higher, no austerity greater, no deity equal, nor any law superior to Gāyatrī. She is called Gāyatrī because she protects the one who chants her, and in this Bhāgavata, her secret essence is established. For this reason, even the greatest Purāṇas do not equal a sixteenth part of this Bhāgavata, which delights the Goddess. The Śrīmad Bhāgavata Purāṇa, pure and immaculate, is the true wealth of the brāhmaṇas. Here, pure dharma is spoken by Nārāyaṇa, the mystery of Gāyatrī is revealed, and the wondrous Maṇidvīpa is described. The Goddess herself sang to Himavat within these pages. Therefore, in this world, nothing equals or surpasses this Purāṇa. O twice-born, the Devī Bhāgavata should always be honored and served. Her power is so immense that not even Brahmā the Creator, Hari the Preserver, Śiva the Destroyer, nor Ananta comprehend her in full—not even their portions and sub-portions. What then can be said of other gods? To her, the Mother of the world, I offer constant reverence. By attaining the dust of her lotus feet, Brahmā creates the universe each day, Viṣṇu sustains it, and Rudra dissolves it—no one else is capable. To her, the Mother of all, I offer my ceaseless devotion. In Maṇidvīpa, radiant with nectar-filled wells and divine groves, stands a house made of wish-fulfilling gems, shining in wondrous beauty. There, the Mother smiles radiantly in the heart of Supreme Śiva. Whoever meditates upon her attains both the joys of life and ultimate liberation. Worshipped by Brahmā, Īśa, Acyuta, Śakra, and other great sages, may she, the sovereign of Maṇidvīpa, bestow welfare upon the world. Om. We meditate upon that primal knowledge, the embodiment of all consciousness, who may inspire our intellect. At this point, Śaunaka addressed Sūta with great reverence: “O Sūta, most fortunate and best among men! You are truly blessed, for you have thoroughly studied the auspicious collections of the Purāṇas. The eighteen Purāṇas, O sinless one, were narrated by the sage Kṛṣṇa, and you have recited and studied them all. O bestower of honor, you have learned from Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, all the Purāṇas, endowed with the five characteristics and full of secrets. By the merit of our good deeds, you have come to this sacred and excellent place—a place that is divine, trustworthy, holy, and free from the faults of the Kali age. Here, this assembly of sages, eager to hear, is gathered, O giver of merit. Therefore, Sūta, with focused mind, recount to us the collection of Purāṇas. May you live long, be all-knowing, and free from the threefold miseries. O most fortunate one, narrate today the Purāṇa that is esteemed as equal to the Veda. O Sūta, those who possess ears and senses but do not listen to the Purāṇas are truly deceived by fate, for they lack discernment and enjoyment. Just as the tongue delights in the six tastes, so too the ear is gladdened by sacred words, as the wise know. Even serpents, though earless, are bewildered by sound; those with ears who do not listen—are they not also earless? Therefore, all the twice-born here, O gentle one, are assembled in Naimiṣāraṇya, eager to listen and afflicted by the fear of the Kali age. Time is passed in many ways: for the foolish, by misfortune; for the wise, by contemplation of scripture. The scriptures themselves are many and varied, filled with debates and arguments. The Purāṇas are of three kinds, and the scriptures are marked by disputation, trickery, pride, and anger, containing various doctrines and reasonings. Among these, Vedānta is considered sāttvika, Mīmāṃsā is rājasika, and Nyāya, full of argument, is tāmasika. In the same way, the Purāṇas are also threefold according to their narratives and the guṇas. O gentle one, you have described those endowed with the five characteristics. Among them, the Bhāgavata, the fifth, is holy and esteemed as equal to the Veda; you have previously narrated it, complete with all its features. At that time, it was only briefly mentioned, though it is supremely wonderful. It grants liberation to those who seek it and bestows both desires and righteousness. Now, please narrate that supreme Purāṇa in detail, with reverence. All the twice-born here long to hear the divine and auspicious Bhāgavata. You, O knower of dharma, truly know the ancient collection of Purāṇas as spoken by Kṛṣṇa, due to your devotion to your teacher and your pure, sāttvika nature. Other teachings, O all-knowing one, have been heard and spoken by you, yet today we are not satisfied—just as the gods are never sated by drinking nectar. O Sūta, shame on that nectar which, even when drunk, does not grant liberation. But by drinking the Bhāgavata, a person is instantly freed from suffering. Though we have performed thousands of sacrifices to gain nectar, we do not attain true peace. The fruit of sacrifices is heaven, but from heaven one falls again; thus, in the endless cycle of worldly existence, there is ceaseless wandering. O Omniscient One, without knowledge, there is never liberation for people caught in the wheel of time, composed of the three guṇas. Therefore, tell us of the virtuous Bhāgavata, full of all flavors, purifying, granting liberation, secret, and always dear to those who seek freedom.