सर्वविद्यानिधिर्जातौ धर्मिष्ठोऽस्त्रविदां वरः । धर्मस्य वक्ता कर्त्ता च रैवतो नाम वीर्यवान्
Raivata, born as the repository of all knowledge, righteous, foremost among masters of weapons, speaker and doer of dharma, and powerful, was his name.
नियुक्तवानथ ब्रह्मा रैवतं मानवे पदे । मन्वन्तराधिपः श्रीमान्गां शशास स धर्मतः
Then Brahma appointed Raivata to the position of Manu; as the illustrious ruler of the Manvantara, he governed righteously.
इत्थं देव्याः प्रभावोऽयं संक्षेपेणोपवर्णितः । पुराणस्य च माहात्म्यं को वक्तुं विस्तरात्क्षमः
Thus, the power of the Goddess has been briefly described; who is capable of narrating the greatness of the Purana in full detail?
सूत उवाच। कुंभयोनिस्तु माहात्म्यं विधिं भागवतस्य च । श्रुत्वा कुमारं चाभ्यर्च्य स्वाश्रमं पुनराययौ
Suta said: Having heard the greatness and procedure of the Bhagavata from the womb-born one, and having worshipped Kumara, he returned again to his own hermitage.
इदं मया भागवतस्य विप्रा माहात्म्यमुक्तं भवतां समक्षम् । शृणोति भक्त्या पठतीह भोगान्भुक्त्वाऽखिलान्मुक्तिमुपैति चांते
O Brahmins, I have spoken to you the greatness of the Bhagavata; whoever listens or recites it here with devotion, after enjoying all pleasures, attains liberation at the end.
अथ पञ्चमोऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः। सूत सूत महाभाग श्रुतं माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामः पुराणश्रवणे विधिम्
The sages said: O Suta, O most fortunate one, we have heard the supreme greatness; now we wish to hear the procedure for listening to the Purana.
सूत उवाच। श्रूयतां मुनयः सर्वे पुराणश्रवणे विधिम् । नराणां शृण्वतां येन सिद्धिः स्यात्सार्वकामिकी
Suta said: Listen, O sages, to the procedure for hearing the Purana, by which those who listen attain fulfillment of all desires.
आदौ दैवज्ञमाहूय मुहूर्तं कल्पयेत्सुधीः । आरभ्य शुचिमासं तु मासषट्कं शुभावहम्
First, summon an astrologer and determine an auspicious time; beginning in a pure month, let it continue for six months, bringing auspiciousness.
हस्ताश्विमूलपुष्यर्क्षे ब्रह्ममैत्रेन्दुवैष्णवे । सत्तिथौ शुभवारे च पुराणश्रवणं शुभम्
Under the stars Hasta, Ashwini, Mula, Pushya, Brahma, Maitra, Indu, and Vaishnava, on auspicious days and times, the hearing of the Purana is auspicious.
गुरुभाद्वेद४वेदा४ब्ज१शरां५गा६ब्धि४गुणैः४क्रमात् । धर्माप्तिरिन्दिराप्राप्तिः कथासिद्धिः परं सुखम्
By the qualities of Guru, Bhadra, Veda, Abja, Sharanga, Abhidhiguṇa, in sequence, one attains dharma, prosperity, success in the narrative, and supreme happiness.
पीडाऽथ भूपतिभयं ज्ञानप्राप्तिः क्रमात्फलम् । पुराणश्रवणे चक्रं शोधयेच्छिवभाषितम्
Then, relief from suffering, fear of rulers, attainment of knowledge, and other fruits occur in sequence; in the hearing of the Purana, purify the circle as spoken by Shiva.
अथवा प्रीतये देव्या नवरात्रचतुष्टये । शृणुयादन्यमासेऽपि तिथिवारर्क्षशोधिते
Alternatively, for the pleasure of the Goddess, one may listen during any month, especially in the four Navaratri festivals, after purifying the date, day, and star.
संभारं तादृशं कार्यं विवाहादौ च यादृशम् । नवाह्यज्ञे चाप्यस्मिन्विधेयं यत्नतो बुधैः
The necessary arrangements should be made, as are done for weddings and other ceremonies; in this sacrifice, the wise should perform all required acts with care.
सहाया बहवः कार्या दम्भलोभविवर्जिताः । चतुराश्च वदान्याश्च देवीभक्तिपरा नराः
Many companions should be engaged, free from deceit and greed, clever and generous, devoted to the Goddess.
प्रेष्या यत्नेन वार्तेयं देशे देशे जने जने । आगन्तव्यमिहावश्यं कथा देव्या भविष्यति
Messengers should diligently spread the word in every region and among all people; everyone must come here, for the Goddess's narrative will take place.
सौराश्च गाणपत्याश्च शैवाः शाक्ताश्च वैष्णवाः । सर्वेषामपि सेव्येयं यतो देवाः सशक्तयः
Followers of Surya, Ganapati, Shiva, Shakti, and Vishnu—all should participate, for the gods together with their powers are served here.
श्रीमद्देवीभागवतपीयूषरसलोलुपैः । आगंतव्यं विशेषेण कथार्थं प्रेमतत्परैः
Those who are eager for the nectar-like essence of the glorious Devi Bhagavata, especially those devoted to love for the narrative, should come.
ब्राह्मणाद्याश्च ये वर्णाः स्त्रियश्चाश्रमिणस्तथा । सकामाश्चापि निष्कामाः पातव्यं तैः कथामृतम्
Brahmins and other castes, women, and those in various stages of life, whether desiring or free from desire, should drink the nectar of the narrative.
नावकाशः कदाचित्स्यान्नवाहश्रवणेऽपि तैः । आगंतव्यं यथाकालं यज्ञे पुण्या क्षणस्थितिः
At no time should there be any opportunity for them even to hear about eating; they should arrive at the proper time for the sacrifice, and their stay should be only for a meritorious moment.
विनयेनैव कर्त्तव्यमेवमाकारणं नृणाम् । आगतानां च कर्त्तव्यं वासस्थानं यथोचितम्
All such matters concerning people should be conducted only with humility; and for those who have arrived, suitable places for lodging should be arranged as appropriate.
कथास्थानं प्रकर्त्तव्यं भूमौ मार्जनपूर्वकम् । लेपनं गोमयेनाथ विशालायां मनोरमम्
The place for the narration should be prepared on the ground, after first cleaning it; it should be smeared with cow dung, and in a spacious and pleasing area.
कार्यस्तु मण्डपो रम्यो रंभास्तंभोपशोभितः । वितानमुपरिष्ठात्तु पताकाध्वज राजितः
A beautiful pavilion should be constructed, adorned with plantain pillars; above, it should be decorated with canopies, banners, and flags.
वक्तुश्चैवासनं दिव्यं सुखास्तरणसंयुतम् । रचितव्यं प्रयत्नेन प्राङ्मुखं वाप्युदङ्मुखम्
A divine seat, furnished with comfortable coverings, should be carefully arranged for the speaker, facing either east or north.
यथोचितानि कुर्वीत श्रोतॄणामासनानि च । नृणां चैवाथ नारीणां कथाश्रवणहेतवे
Appropriate seats should also be provided for the listeners, both men and women, for the purpose of hearing the narration.
वाग्मी दांतश्च शास्त्रज्ञो देव्याराधनतत्परः । दयालुनिस्पृहो दक्षो धीरो वक्तोत्तमो मतः
The best speaker is considered to be eloquent, self-controlled, learned in scripture, devoted to the worship of the Goddess, compassionate, unattached, skillful, and steadfast.
ब्रह्मण्यो देवताभक्तः कथारसपरायणः । उदारोऽलोलुपो नम्रः श्रोता हिंसादिवर्जितः
The listener should be devoted to Brahman, a worshipper of the gods, intent on the essence of the narration, generous, not greedy, humble, and free from violence and the like.
पाखण्डनिरतो लुब्धः स्त्रैणो धर्मध्वजस्तथा । निष्ठुरः क्रोधनो वक्ता देवीयज्ञे न शस्यते
One who is engaged in heresy, greedy, lustful, a hypocrite, harsh, or prone to anger is not recommended as a speaker in the sacrifice to the Goddess.
संशयच्छेदनायैक: पण्डितश्च तथागुणः । श्रोतृबोधकृदव्यग्रः कार्य्यो वक्तुः सहायकृत्
For resolving doubts, there should be a learned and virtuous person, who instructs the listeners, remains undistracted, and serves as an assistant to the speaker.
मुहूर्तं दिवसादर्वाग्वक्तृश्रोतादिभिर्जनैः । कर्त्तव्यं क्षौरकर्मादि ततो नियमकल्पनम्
At an auspicious time during the day, the speaker, listeners, and others should perform shaving and similar rites, and then undertake the prescribed observances.
अरुणोदयवेलायां स्नायाच्छौचं विधाय च । संध्या तर्पणकार्यं च नित्यं संक्षेपतश्चरेत्
At sunrise, after bathing and performing purification, one should briefly carry out the daily rites of twilight worship and offerings to the ancestors.