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?'
आस्से ध्यानपरो नित्यमृणग्रस्त इवाधनः । का चिन्ता वर्तते पुत्र मयि ताते तु तिष्ठति
You sit constantly engaged in meditation, like a poor man burdened by debt; what worry persists, O son, while your father remains with you?
सुखं भुंक्ष्व यथाकामं मुञ्च शोकं मनोगतम् । ज्ञानं चिन्तय शास्त्रोक्तं विज्ञाने च मतिं कुरु
Enjoy happiness as you wish; cast off sorrow from your mind. Reflect on the knowledge taught in scripture and direct your intellect toward understanding.
न चेन्मनसि ते शान्तिर्वचसा मम सुव्रत । गच्छ त्वं मिथिलां पुत्र पालितां जनकेन ह
If peace does not arise in your mind from my words, O virtuous one, then go, O son, to Mithilā, which is governed by Janaka.
स ते मोहं महाभाग नाशयिष्यति भूपतिः । जनको नाम धर्मात्मा विदेहः सत्यसागरः
That king, O fortunate one, will dispel your delusion; Janaka, the righteous soul of Videha, is an ocean of truth.
तं गत्वा नृपतिं पुत्र सन्देहं स्वं निवर्तय । वर्णाश्रमाणां धर्मांस्त्वं पृच्छ पुत्र यथातथम्
Go to that king, O son, and resolve your doubts. Ask him, O son, about the true duties of the varnas and ashramas.
जीवन्मुक्तः स राजर्षिर्बह्मज्ञानमतिः शुचिः । तथ्यवक्तातिशान्तश्च योगी योगप्रियः सदा
That royal sage is liberated while living, pure in mind, possessing knowledge of Brahman; he speaks truthfully, is exceedingly tranquil, and is always devoted to yoga.
सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य व्यासस्यामिततेजसः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः शुकश्चारणिसम्भवः
Sūta said: Hearing the words of Vyāsa, whose brilliance is boundless, Śuka, born from the Arani, replied with great radiance.
दम्भोऽयं किल धर्मात्मन्भाति चित्ते ममाधुना । जीवन्मुक्तो विदेहश्च राज्यं शास्ति मुदान्वितः
This, O righteous one, now appears as hypocrisy in my mind: Videha is said to be liberated while living, yet he rules the kingdom with joy.
वन्ध्यापुत्र इवाभाति राजासौ जनकः पितः । कुर्वन् राज्यं विदेहः किं सन्देहोऽयं ममाद्भुतः
That king Janaka, the father, seems like a barren woman's son; Videha governs the kingdom—how is this? This doubt of mine is astonishing.
द्रष्टुमिच्छाम्यहं भूपं विदेहं नृपसत्तमम् । कथं तिष्ठति संसारे पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसि
I wish to see the king, Videha, the foremost among rulers; how does he remain in worldly life like a lotus leaf in water?