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?
सन्देहोऽयं महांस्तात विदेहे परिवर्तते । मोक्षः किं वदतां श्रेष्ठ सौगतानामिवापरः
This great doubt, O father, revolves around Videha: Is liberation, O best of speakers, like that of the Buddhists or otherwise?
कथं भुक्तमभुक्तं स्यादकृतं च कृतं कथम् । व्यवहारः कथं त्याज्य इन्द्रियाणां महामते
How can what is eaten be considered uneaten, and how can what is not done be considered done? How, O wise one, should dealings with the senses be renounced?
माता पुत्रस्तथा भार्या भगिनी कुलटा तथा । भेदाभेदः कथं न स्याद्यद्येतन्मुक्तता कथम्
Mother, son, wife, sister, and even a courtesan—how can there be neither difference nor non-difference? If so, what is liberation?
कटु क्षारं तथा तीक्ष्णां कषायं मिष्टमेव च । रसना यदि जानाति भुंक्ते भोगाननुत्तमान्
If the tongue knows bitter, salty, sharp, astringent, and sweet tastes, it enjoys supreme pleasures.
शीतोष्णुसुखदुःखादिपरिज्ञानं यदा भवेत् । मुक्तता कीदृशी तात सन्देहोऽयं ममाद्भुतः
When knowledge of cold, heat, pleasure, pain, and so forth arises, what kind of liberation is that, O father? This doubt of mine is astonishing.
शत्रुमित्रपरिज्ञानं वैरं प्रीतिकरं सदा । व्यवहारे परे तिष्ठन्कथं न कुरुते नृपः
When one always recognizes enemy and friend, enmity and affection, how does the king, remaining in worldly dealings, not act upon them?
चौरं वा तापसं वापि समानं मन्यते कथम् । असमा यदि बुद्धिः स्यान्मुक्तता तर्हि कीदृशी
How can one regard a thief and an ascetic as equal? If discernment is lacking, then what kind of liberation is that?
दृष्टपूर्वो न मे कश्चिज्जीवन्मुक्तश्च भूपतिः । शङ्केयं महती तात गृहे मुक्तः कथं नृपः
I have never seen anyone who is both a living-liberated soul and a king, O ruler; I have great doubt—how can a king be liberated while living at home?
दिदृक्षा महती जाता श्रुत्वा तं भूपतिं तथा । सन्देहविनिवृत्त्यर्थं गच्छामि मिथिलां प्रति
A great desire to see that king has arisen in me after hearing of him; to dispel my doubt, I will go to Mithila.
शुकस्य राजमन्दिरप्रवेशवर्णनम् सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्वा पितरं पुत्रः पादयोः पतितः शुकः । बद्धाञ्जलिरुवाचेदं गन्तुकामो महामनाः
Sūta said: Having spoken thus to his father, Śuka, the great-minded son, fell at his feet, joined his palms, and spoke these words, wishing to depart.