वर्ण्यते धर्मविस्तारो गायत्रीमधिकृत्य च । गायत्र्या महिमा यत्र तद्भागवतमिष्यते
Here is described the expanse of dharma, centering on the Gāyatrī; the greatness of Gāyatrī is recounted, and that is considered Bhāgavata.
भगवत्या इदं यस्मात्तस्माद्भागवतं विदुः । ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाराध्या परा भगवती हि सा
Because this belongs to the Goddess, it is known as Bhāgavata; for she, the supreme Goddess, is worshipped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva.
ऋतवागिति विख्यातो मुनिरासीन्महामतिः । तस्य पुत्रोऽभवत्काले गण्डान्ते पौष्णभान्तिमे
A sage of great wisdom named Ṛtavāk was renowned; in due time, he had a son at the end of Pauṣṇa.
स तस्य जातकर्मादि क्रियाश्चक्रे यथाविधि । चूडोपनयनादींश्च संस्कारानपि सोऽकरोत्
He performed for him the birth rites and other ceremonies as prescribed, and also the rituals such as tonsure and initiation.
यत आरभ्य जातोऽसौ पुत्रस्तस्य महात्मनः । तत एवाथ स मुनिः शोकरोगाकुलोऽभवत्
From the time that son was born to that great-souled sage, the sage became afflicted with grief and illness.
रोषलोभपरीतात्मा तथा मातापि तस्य च । बहुरागार्दिता नित्यं शुचा दुःखीकृता भृशम्
His mind, and likewise the mother’s, became overwhelmed by anger and greed; she, filled with many attachments, was constantly distressed and deeply sorrowful.
ऋतवाक्स मुनिश्चिन्तामवाप भृशदुःखितः । किमेततत्कारणं जातं पुत्रो मेऽत्यंतदुर्मतिः
The sage Ṛtavāk, greatly troubled, fell into anxiety: 'Why has my son become so utterly wicked?'
कस्यचिन्मुनिपुत्रस्य बलात्पत्नीं जहार च । मेने शिक्षां पितुर्नासौ न च मातुर्विमूढधीः
By force, he abducted the wife of another sage’s son; he paid no heed to his father’s teaching, nor to his mother’s, his mind deluded.
ततो विषण्णचित्तस्तु ऋतवागब्रवीदिदम् । अपुत्रता वरं नॄणां न कदाचित्कुपुत्रता
Then, with a heart full of sorrow, Ṛtavāk spoke these words: For men, it is better to have no son at all than to have a wicked son.
पितॄन्कुपुत्रः स्वर्यातान्निरये पातयत्यपि । यावज्जीवेत्सदा पित्रोः केवलं दुःखदायकः
An evil son causes his ancestors to fall from heaven into hell; as long as he lives, he brings only suffering to his parents.
पित्रोर्दुःखाय धिग्जन्म कुपुत्रस्य च पापिनः । सुहृदां नोपकाराय नापकाराय वैरिणाम्
The birth of a sinful son brings misery to his parents; he does no good to friends, nor does he harm enemies.
धन्यास्ते मानवा लोके सुपुत्रो यद्गृहे स्थितः । परोपकारशीलश्च पितुर्मातुः सुखावहः
Blessed are those people in whose house a good son dwells, who is devoted to helping others and brings happiness to his father and mother.
कुपुत्रेण कुलं नष्टं कुपुत्रेण हतं यशः । कुपुत्रेणेह चामुत्र दुःखं निरययातनाः
By a wicked son, the family is destroyed, reputation is ruined, and both here and hereafter, suffering and torments of hell are endured.
कुपुत्रेणान्वयो नष्टो जन्म नष्टं कुभार्यया । कुभोजनेन दिवसः कुमित्रेण सुखं कुतः
By a wicked son, the lineage is lost; by a bad wife, birth is wasted; by bad food, the day is ruined; with a false friend, how can there be happiness?
स्कन्द उवाच। एवं दुष्टस्य पुत्रस्य दुष्टैराचरणैर्मुनिः । तप्यमानोऽनिशं काले गत्वा गर्गमपृच्छत
Skanda said: Thus, tormented day and night by the evil conduct of his wicked son, the sage went to Garga and asked him.
ऋतवागुवाच। भगवंस्त्वामहं प्रष्टुमिच्छामि वद तत्प्रभो । ज्योतिःज्ञास्त्रस्य चाचार्य पुत्रदौःशील्यकारणम्
Ṛtavāk said: O venerable one, I wish to ask you—please tell me, O master, what is the cause of my son's wickedness, according to the science of astrology?
गुरुशुश्रूषया वेदा अधीता विधिवन्मया । ब्रह्मचारिव्रतं तीर्त्वा विवाहो विधिवत्कृतः
By serving my teacher, I have studied the Vedas properly; I have observed the vow of celibacy and performed marriage according to the prescribed rites.
भार्यया सह गार्हस्थ्यधर्मश्चानुष्ठितोऽनिशम् । पंचयज्ञविधानं च मयाऽकारि यथाविधि
With my wife, I have always practiced the duties of a householder, and I have performed the five daily sacrifices as prescribed.
नरकाद्बिभ्यता विप्र न तु कामसुखेच्छया । गर्भाधानं च विधिवत्पुत्रप्राप्त्यै मया कृतम्
Out of fear of hell, not out of desire for pleasure, I performed the rite of conception according to the rules, in order to obtain a son.
पुत्रोऽयं मम दोषेण मातुर्दोषेण वा मुने । जातो दुःखावहः पित्रोर्दुःशीलो बंधुशोकदः
This son of mine, by my fault or by his mother's, O sage, has been born as a source of sorrow, wicked in conduct, and a cause of grief to his relatives.
एतन्निशम्य वचनं गर्गाचार्यो मुनेस्तदा । विचार्य सर्वं तद्धेतुं ज्योतिर्विद्वाचमब्रवीत्
Hearing these words, the sage Garga, after considering everything, spoke the cause according to the science of astrology.
गर्ग उवाच। मुने नैवापराधस्ते न मातुर्न कुलस्य च । रेवत्यंतं तु गण्डान्तं पुत्रदौःशील्यकारणम्
Garga said: O sage, neither you nor your wife nor your family is at fault; the cause of your son's wickedness lies in the unfavorable period of Revati.
दुष्टे काले यतो जन्म पुत्रस्य तव भो मुने । तेनैव तव दुःखाय नान्यो हेतुर्मनागपि
Because your son was born at an inauspicious time, O sage, it is for this reason alone that you suffer; there is no other cause, not even a little.
तद्दुःखशांतये ब्रह्मञ्जगतां मातरं शिवाम् । समाराधय यत्नेन दुर्गां दुर्गतिनाशिनीम्
To bring an end to this suffering, O Brahmin, worship with effort the auspicious Mother of the worlds, Durgā, the destroyer of misfortune.
गर्गस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा ऋतवाक् क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । रेवतीं तु शशापासौ व्योम्नः पततु रेवती
Hearing Garga's words, Ṛtavāk, overcome with anger, cursed Revatī: 'Let Revatī fall from the sky!'
दत्ते शापे तु तेनाथ पूष्णो भं च पपात खात् । कुमुदाद्रौ भासमानं सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः
When he uttered this curse, the star of Pūṣā also fell from the sky, shining on Mount Kumuda before the eyes of all the worlds.
ख्यातो रैवतकश्चाभूत्तत्पातात्कुमुदाचल: । अतीव रमणीयश्च ततः प्रभृति सोऽप्यभूत्
Thus, Raivataka became renowned, and from his fall, Kumuda Mountain arose; from that time onward, it too became exceedingly beautiful.
दत्त्वा शापं च रेवत्यै गर्गोक्तविधिना मुनिः । समाराध्यांबिकां देवीं सुखसौभाग्यभागभूत्
Having pronounced a curse upon Revati, the sage, following Garga’s instructions, worshipped the Goddess Ambika and attained happiness and good fortune.
स्कन्द उवाच। रेवत्यृक्षस्य यत्तेजस्तस्माज्जाता तु कन्यका । रूपेणाप्रतिमा लोके द्वितीया श्रीरिवाभवत्
Skanda said: From the radiance of Revata’s constellation, a maiden was born, unparalleled in beauty in the world, appearing as if she were a second goddess of fortune.
अथ तां प्रमुचः कन्यां रेवतीकांतिसंभवाम् । दृष्ट्वा नाम चकारास्या रेवतीति मुदा मुनिः
Then, seeing that maiden, radiant with Revati’s splendor, the sage joyfully named her Revati.