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.
अतो नवाहयज्ञोऽयं सर्वस्मात्पुण्यकर्मणः । फलाधिकप्रदानेन प्रोक्तः पुण्यप्रदो नृणाम्
Therefore, this nine-day sacrifice is declared to be more fruitful than all virtuous acts, as it bestows greater rewards and brings merit to people.
ये दुर्हृदः पापरता विमूढा मित्रद्रुहो वेदविनिंदकाश्च । हिंसारता नास्तिकमार्गसक्ता नवाहयज्ञेन पुनंति ते कलौ
Those with wicked hearts, devoted to sin, deluded, betrayers of friends, revilers of the Vedas, addicted to violence and the path of atheism—these are purified in Kali by the nine-day sacrifice.
परस्वदाराहणेतिऽलुब्धा ये वै नराः कल्मषभारभाजः । गोदेवता ब्राह्मणभक्तिहीना नवाहज्ञेन भवन्ति शुद्धाः
Those men who covet others' wives and wealth, burdened with sin, lacking devotion to cows, deities, and Brahmins, become purified by the nine-day sacrifice.
तपोभिरुग्रैर्व्रततीर्थसेवनैर्दानैरनेकैर्नियमैर्मखैश्च । हुतैर्जपैर्यच्च फलेन लभ्यते नवाहयज्ञेन तदाप्यते नृणाम्
The fruit obtained by fierce austerities, vows, pilgrimages, donations, many disciplines, sacrifices, offerings, and recitations is attained by people through the nine-day sacrifice.
तथा न गङ्गा न गया न काशी न नैमिषं नो मथुरा न पुष्करम् । पुनाति सद्यो बदरीवनं नो यथा हि देवीमख एष विप्राः
Neither Gaṅgā, nor Gayā, nor Kāśī, nor Naimiṣa, nor Mathurā, nor Puṣkara, nor even Badarī forest purifies instantly as does this sacrifice to the Goddess, O Brahmins.
अतो भागवतं देव्याः पुराणं परतः परम् । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामुत्तमं साधनं मतम्
Therefore, the Bhāgavata Purāṇa of the Goddess is considered the highest and supreme means for dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation.
आश्विनस्य सिते पक्षे कन्याराशिगते रवौ । महाष्टम्यां समभ्यर्च्य हैकसिंहासनस्थितम्
When the Sun enters Virgo during the bright fortnight of the month of Āśvina, one should worship the Goddess, seated upon the lion-throne, on the great eighth day.
देवीप्रीतिपदं भक्त्या श्रीभागवतपुस्तकम् । दद्याद्विप्राय योग्याय स देव्याः पदवीं लभेत्
With devotion, for the pleasure of the Goddess, one should give the Śrī Bhāgavata book to a worthy brāhmaṇa; by this, one attains the path of the Goddess.
देवी भागवतस्यापि श्लोकं श्लोकार्द्धमेव वा । भक्त्या यश्च पठेन्नित्यं स देव्याः प्रीतिभाग्भवेत् ॥ उपसर्गभवं घोरं महामारीसमुद्भवम् । उत्पातानखिलांश्चापि हंति श्रवणमात्रतः
Whoever, with devotion, recites daily even a single verse or half a verse of the Devī Bhāgavata becomes dear to the Goddess; merely by hearing it, one is freed from terrible calamities, deadly epidemics, and all disasters.
बालग्रहकृतं यच्च भूतप्रेतकृतं भयम् । देवीभागवतस्यास्य श्रवणाद्याति दूरतः
The fear caused by balagrahas, spirits, or ghosts is driven far away by hearing the Devī Bhāgavata.