घ्राणं सुखं सुगन्धेन कर्णजं श्रवणेन च । स्त्रीसुखं तु स्त्रिया नूनं पुत्रोऽहं किं करोमि ते
The nose delights in fragrance, the ear in hearing; a woman’s pleasure is with a woman—so, being your son, what can I do for you?
अजीगर्तेन पुत्रोऽपि हरिश्चन्द्राय भूभुजे । पशुकामाय यज्ञार्थे दत्तो मौल्येन सर्वथा
Even a son was given by Ajīgarta to King Hariścandra, for the sake of cattle and for sacrifice, sold for a price in every way.
सुखानां साधनं द्रव्यं धनात्सुखसमुच्चयः । धनमर्जय लोभश्चेत्पुत्रोऽहं किं करोम्यहम्
Wealth is the means to happiness, and happiness is gathered from riches; if you seek wealth out of greed, then what can I, your son, do for you?
मां प्रबोधय बुद्ध्या त्वं दैवज्ञोऽसि महामते । यथा मुच्येयमत्यन्तं गर्भवासभयान्मुने
Instruct me with your wisdom, for you are learned in destiny, O wise one; so that I may be completely freed from the fear of the womb, O sage.
दुर्लभं मानुषं जन्म कर्मभूमाविहानघ । तत्रापि ब्राह्मणत्वं वै दुर्लभं चोत्तमे कुले
Human birth is difficult to obtain in this world of action, O sinless one; and even among humans, to be born a Brāhmaṇa in a noble family is indeed rare.
बद्धोऽहमिति मे बुद्धिर्नापसर्पति चित्ततः । संसारवासनाजाले निविष्टा वृद्धिगामिनी
The thought that I am bound does not depart from my mind; it is firmly established and grows within the net of worldly desires.
सूत उवाच इत्युक्तस्तु तदा व्यासः पुत्रेणामितबुद्धिना । प्रत्युवाच शुकं शान्तं चतुर्थाश्रममानसम्
Sūta said: Thus addressed by his son of boundless intellect, Vyāsa replied to Śuka, who was serene and intent on the fourth stage of life.
व्यास उवाच पठ पुत्र महाभाग मया भागवतं कृतम् । शुभं न चातिविस्तीर्णं पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम्
Vyāsa said: Recite, O blessed son, the Bhāgavata composed by me, auspicious and not overly extensive, a Purāṇa esteemed by the wise as equal to the Veda.
स्कन्धा द्वादश तत्रैव पञ्चलक्षणसंयुतम् । सर्वेषां च पुराणानां भूषणं मम सम्मतम्
It contains twelve books and is endowed with the five characteristics; among all the Purāṇas, it is regarded by me as the ornament.
सदसज्ज्ञानविज्ञानं श्रुतमात्रेण जायते । येन भागवतेनेह तत्पठ त्वं महामते
By merely hearing this Bhāgavata, knowledge of the real and unreal, and true understanding, arise; therefore, recite it, O wise one.
वटपत्रशयानाय विष्णवे बालरूपिणे । केनास्मि बालभावेन निर्मितोऽहं चिदात्मना
To Viṣṇu, who lies on the banyan leaf in the form of a child, by whom was I created in this state of childhood, though I am the conscious self?
किमर्थं केन द्रव्येण कथं जानामि चाखिलम् । इत्येवं चिन्त्यमानाय मुकुन्दाय महात्मने
For what purpose, by whom, and with what means do I know all this? Thus pondering, to Mukunda, the great soul—
श्लोकार्धेन तया प्रोक्तं भगवत्याखिलार्थदम् । सर्वं खल्विदमेवाहं नान्यदस्ति सनातनम्
The Goddess spoke in half a verse, conveying the meaning of all: 'Indeed, all this is only Myself; there is nothing else eternal.'
तद्वचो विष्णुना पूर्वं संविज्ञातं मनस्यपि । केनोक्ता वागियं सत्या चिन्तयामास चेतसा
That statement was previously realized by Viṣṇu in his mind; he wondered, 'By whom was this true speech uttered?' and reflected deeply.
कथं वेद्मि प्रवक्तारं स्त्रीपुंसौ वा नपुंसकम् । इति चिन्ताप्रपन्नेन धृतं भागवतं हृदि
How can I know the one who will speak—the speaker—whether woman, man, or neither? With such thoughts arising, the Bhāgavata was held in the heart.
पुनः पुनः कृतोच्चारस्तस्मिनेवास्तचेतसा । वटपत्रे शयानः सन्नभूच्चिन्तासमन्वितः
Again and again, with mind fixed on that, he uttered the words; lying on the banyan leaf, he was filled with anxious thoughts.
तदा शान्ता भगवती प्रादुरास चतुर्भुजा । शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मवरायुधधरा शिवा
Then the serene Goddess appeared, four-armed, holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus, auspicious and bearing divine weapons.
दिव्याम्बरधरा देवी दिव्यभूषणभूषिता । संयुता सदृशीभिश्च सखीभिः स्वविभूतिभिः
The Goddess was adorned with celestial garments and divine ornaments, accompanied by companions resembling herself, radiant with her own powers.
प्रादुर्बभूव तस्याग्रे विष्णोरमिततेजसः । मन्दहास्यं प्रयुञ्जाना महालक्ष्मीः शुभानना
She manifested before him—before Viṣṇu of immeasurable brilliance—smiling gently, Mahālakṣmī, auspicious-faced.
सूत उवाच तां तथा संस्थितां दृष्ट्वा हृदये कमलेक्षणः । विस्मितः सलिले तस्मिन्निराधारा मनोरमाम्
Sūta said: Seeing her standing thus, the lotus-eyed one, his heart captivated, was astonished in that water, unsupported, wondrous to behold.
रतिर्भूतिस्तथा बुद्धिर्मतिः कीर्तिः स्मृतिर्धृतिः । श्रद्धा मेधा स्वधा स्वाहा क्षुधा निद्रा दया गतिः
Love, prosperity, intellect, discernment, fame, memory, fortitude, faith, wisdom, Svadhā, Svāhā, hunger, sleep, compassion, and movement—
तुष्टिः पुष्टिः क्षमा लज्जा जृम्भा तन्द्रा च शक्तयः । संस्थिताः सर्वतः पार्श्वे महादेव्याः पृथक्पृथक्
Contentment, nourishment, forgiveness, modesty, yawning, drowsiness—these powers stood all around the Great Goddess, each separately.
वरायुधधराः सर्वा नानाभूषणभूषिताः । मन्दारमालाकुलिता मुक्ताहारविराजिताः
All bore excellent weapons, adorned with various ornaments, wreathed with garlands of coral-tree flowers, shining with pearl necklaces.
तां दृष्ट्वा ताश्च संवीक्ष्य तस्मिन्नेकार्णवे जले । विस्मयाविष्टहृदयः सम्बभूव जनार्दनः
Seeing her and observing them in that single ocean of water, Janārdana’s heart was seized with wonder.
चिन्तयामास सर्वात्मा दृष्टमायोऽतिविस्मितः । कुतो भूताः स्त्रियः सर्वाः कुतोऽहं वटतल्पगः
The All-Self, having seen this marvel, was greatly astonished and thought: From where have all these women arisen? And how am I lying on this banyan leaf?
अस्मिन्नेकार्णवे घोरे न्यग्रोधः कथमुत्थितः । केनाहं स्थापितोऽस्म्यत्र शिशुं कृत्वा शुभाकृतिम्
In this dreadful, single ocean, how has this banyan tree arisen? By whom have I been placed here, made into a child of auspicious form?
ममेयं जननी नो वा माया वा कापि दुर्घटा । दर्शनं केनचित्त्वद्य दत्तं वा केन हेतुना
Is this my mother, or not? Or is she some unfathomable Māyā? By whom has this vision been given today, and for what reason?
किं मया चात्र वक्तव्यं गन्तव्यं वा न वा क्वचित् । मौनमास्थाय तिष्ठेयं बालभावादतन्द्रितः
What should I say here? Should I go somewhere, or not? Or should I remain silent, steadfast in my childlike state, alert and watchful?
व्यासोपदेशवर्णनम् दृष्ट्वा तं विस्मितं देवं शयानं वटपत्रके । उवाच सस्मितं वाक्यं विष्णो किं विस्मितो ह्यसि
Description of Vyāsa’s instruction: Seeing that astonished god lying on the banyan leaf, she spoke with a smile: 'Viṣṇu, why are you astonished?'
महाशक्त्याः प्रभावेण त्वं मां विस्मृतवान्पुरा । प्रभवे प्रलये जाते भूत्वा भूत्वा पुनः पुनः
By the power of the Great Śakti, you once forgot me; at the time of creation and dissolution, you are born again and again.