व्यास उवाच विष्णोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा महालक्ष्मीः स्मितानना । उवाच परया प्रीत्या वचनं चारुहासिनी
Vyāsa said: Hearing Viṣṇu’s words, Mahālakṣmī, her face adorned with a smile, spoke with great affection, her speech charming.
महालक्ष्मीरुवाच शृणु शौरे वचो मह्यं सगुणाहं चतुर्भुजा । मां जानासि न जानासि निर्गुणां सगुणालयाम्
Mahālakṣmī said: Hear my words, O Śauri. I am endowed with qualities and four-armed; you know me, but do not know me as the formless one, the abode of all qualities.
त्वं जानीहि महाभाग तया तत्प्रकटीकृतम् । पुण्यं भागवतं विद्धि वेदसारं शुभावहम्
Know, O highly fortunate one, that by her this has been made manifest. Understand the Bhāgavata as holy, the essence of the Vedas, and the bringer of auspiciousness.
कृपां च महतीं मन्ये देव्याः शत्रुनिषूदन । यया प्रोक्तं परं गुह्यं हिताय तव सुव्रत
I consider the great compassion of the Goddess, O destroyer of enemies, by which this supreme secret was spoken for your benefit, O steadfast one.
रक्षणीयं सदा चित्ते न विस्मार्यं कदाचन । सारं हि सर्वशास्त्राणां महाविद्याप्रकाशितम्
It must always be preserved in the heart, never to be forgotten at any time; for it is the essence of all scriptures, revealed as the supreme knowledge.
नातः परं वेदितव्यं वर्तते भुवनत्रये । प्रियोऽसि खलु देव्यास्त्वं तेन ते व्याहृतं वचः
Beyond this, nothing remains to be known in the three worlds; truly, you are dear to the Goddess, and therefore these words were spoken to you.
व्यास उवाच इति श्रुत्वा वचो देव्या महालक्ष्याश्चतुर्भुजः । दधार हृदये नित्यं मत्वा मन्त्रमनुत्तमम्
Vyāsa said: Thus, hearing the words of the four-armed Mahālakṣmī, he always kept that supreme mantra in his heart.
कालेन कियता तत्र तन्नाभिकमलोद्भवः । ब्रह्मा दैत्यभयात्त्रस्तो जगाम शरणं हरेः
After some time, Brahmā, born from the lotus of the navel, terrified by the fear of the demons, sought refuge with Hari.
ततः कृत्वा महायुद्धं हत्वा तौ मधुकैटभौ । जजाप भगवान्विष्णुः श्लोकार्धं विशदाक्षरम्
Then, after waging a great battle and slaying those two, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, the blessed Viṣṇu recited half of the verse, clear in every syllable.
जपन्तं वासुदेवं च दृष्ट्वा देवः प्रजापतिः । पप्रच्छ परमप्रीतः कञ्जजः कमलापतिम्
Seeing Vāsudeva reciting, the god Prajāpati, delighted, questioned the lotus-born, the lord of Lakṣmī.
किं त्वं जपसि देवेश त्वत्तः कोऽप्यधिकोऽस्ति वै । यत्कृत्वा पुण्डरीकाक्ष प्रीतोऽसि जगदीश्वर
O Lord of the gods, why do you recite? Is there anyone greater than you? O lotus-eyed Lord of the universe, what do you do to become pleased?
हरिरुवाच मयि त्वयि च या शक्तिः क्रियाकारणलक्षणा । विचारय महाभाग या सा भगवती शिवा
Hari said: O highly fortunate one, consider the power that exists in you and me, characterized by action and its cause—that is the blessed, auspicious Goddess.
यस्याधारे जगत्सर्वं तिष्ठत्यत्र महार्णवे । साकारा या महाशक्तिरमेया च सनातनी
Upon whose support this entire world stands in this great ocean, who is the manifest Great Power, immeasurable and eternal—
यया विसृज्यते विश्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम् । सैषा प्रसन्ना वरदा नृणां भवति मुक्तये
By whom this universe, both moving and unmoving, is created—she, when pleased, becomes the granter of boons and brings liberation to people.
सा विद्या परमा मुक्तेर्हेतुभूता सनातनी । संसारबन्धहेतुश्च सैव सर्वेश्वरेश्वरी
She is the supreme knowledge, the eternal cause of liberation, and also the cause of bondage in the cycle of existence—she is the sovereign of all lords.
अहं त्वमखिलं विश्वं तस्याश्चिच्छक्तिसम्भवम् । विद्धि ब्रह्मन्न सन्देहः कर्तव्यः सर्वदानघ
Know, O Brahma, without any doubt, that I, you, and the entire universe arise from her consciousness-power.
श्लोकार्धेन तया प्रोक्तं तद्वै भागवतं किल । विस्तरो भविता तस्य द्वापरादौ युगे तथा
By her, in half a verse, that Bhāgavata was spoken; its full exposition will take place at the beginning of the Dvāpara age.
व्यास उवाच ब्रह्मणा संगृहीतं च विष्णोस्तु नाभिपङ्कजे । नारदाय च तेनोक्तं पुत्रायामितबुद्धये
Vyāsa said: That which was received by Brahmā in the lotus of Viṣṇu’s navel was then told by him to Nārada, his son of immeasurable wisdom.
नारदेन तथा मह्यं दत्तं हि मुनिना पुरा । मया कृतमिदं पूर्णं द्वादशस्कन्धविस्तरम्
Long ago, that sage Nārada gave it to me; I have composed this complete work, expanded into twelve books.
तत्पठस्व महाभाग पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् । पञ्चलक्षणयुक्तं च देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम्
O highly fortunate one, recite this Purāṇa, approved by Brahmā, endowed with five characteristics and containing the supreme exploits of the Goddess.
तत्त्वज्ञानरसोपेतं सर्वेषामुत्तमोत्तमम् । धर्मशास्त्रसमं पुण्यं वेदार्थेनोपबृंहितम्
Filled with the essence of true knowledge, it is the highest of the high for all; equal to the Dharma-śāstras, meritorious, and enriched with the meaning of the Vedas.
वृत्रासुरवधोपेतं नानाख्यानकथायुतम् । ब्रह्मविद्यानिधानं तु संसारार्णवतारकम्
Containing the story of the slaying of Vṛtrāsura, filled with various tales, it is a treasury of Brahma-vidyā and a raft for crossing the ocean of worldly existence.
गृहाण त्वं महाभाग योग्योऽसि मतिमत्तरः । पुण्यं भागवतं नाम पुराणं पुरुषर्षभ
Take it, O highly fortunate one, you are most worthy and intelligent; O best of men, this meritorious Purāṇa is called the Bhāgavata.
अष्टादशसहस्राणां श्लोकानां कुरु संग्रहम् । अज्ञाननाशनं दिव्यं ज्ञानभास्करबोधकम्
Make a summary of its eighteen thousand verses, which destroys ignorance, is divine, and awakens the radiant light of knowledge.
सुखदं शान्तिदं धन्यं दीर्घायुष्यकरं शिवम् । शृण्वतां पठतां चेदं पुत्रपौत्रविवर्धनम्
It brings happiness, peace, prosperity, long life, and auspiciousness; for those who listen and recite, it increases sons and grandsons.
शिष्योऽयं मम धर्मात्मा लोमहर्षणसम्भवः । पठिष्यति त्वया सार्धं पुराणीं संहितां शुभाम्
This disciple of mine, righteous and born of Lomaharṣaṇa, will recite this auspicious collection of the Purāṇa together with you.
सूत उवाच इत्युक्तं तेन पुत्राय मह्यं च कथितं किल । मया गृहीतं तत्सर्वं पुराणं चातिविस्तरम्
Sūta said: Thus it was spoken to his son and also told to me; I received all of that vast Purāṇa.
शुकोऽधीत्य पुराणं तु स्थितो व्यासाश्रमे शुभे । न लेभे शर्म धर्मात्मा ब्रह्मात्मज इवापरः
Śuka, having studied the Purāṇa, remained in Vyāsa’s blessed hermitage; yet, like another son of Brahmā, that righteous one did not find peace.
एकान्तसेवी विकलः स शून्य इव लक्ष्यते । नात्यन्तभोजनासक्तो नोपवासरतस्तथा
One who dwells in solitude appears distressed, as if empty; he is neither excessively attached to eating nor devoted to fasting.
चिन्ताविष्टं शुकं दृष्ट्वा व्यासः प्राह सुतं प्रति । किं पुत्र चिन्त्यते नित्यं कस्माद्व्यग्रोऽसि मानद
Seeing Śuka absorbed in thought, Vyāsa spoke to his son: 'Why, O son, do you always ponder? For what reason are you restless, O giver of honor?'