तस्मान्नास्य पुराणस्य लोकेऽन्यत्सदृशं परम् । अतः सदैव संसेव्यं देवीभागवतं द्विजाः
Therefore, in this world, there is nothing equal or superior to this Purāṇa; hence, O twice-born, the Devī Bhāgavata should always be served.
यस्याः प्रभावमखिलं न हि वेद धाता नो वा हरिर्न गिरिशो न हि चाप्यनन्तः । अंशांशका अपि च ते किमुतान्यदेवास्तस्यै नमोऽस्तु सततं जगदम्बिकायै
Whose entire power neither the Creator nor Hari nor Śiva nor Ananta knows; even their portions and sub-portions do not comprehend—what then of other gods? To her, the Mother of the world, I offer constant reverence.
यत्पादपंकजरजः समवाप्य विश्वं ब्रह्मा सृजत्यनुदिनं च बिभर्ति विष्णुः । रुद्रश्च संहरति नेतरथा समर्थास्तस्यै नमोऽस्तु सततं जगदम्बिकायै
By attaining the dust of whose lotus feet, Brahmā creates the universe daily, Viṣṇu sustains it, and Rudra dissolves it; none else is capable. To her, the Mother of the world, I offer constant reverence.
सुधाकूपारांतस्त्रिदशतरुवाटी विलसिते मणिद्वीपे चिन्तामणिमयगृहे चित्ररुचिरे । विराजन्तीमम्बां परशिवहृदि स्मेरवदनां नरो ध्यात्वा भोगं भजति खलु मोक्षं च लभते
In Maṇidvīpa, radiant with wells of nectar and groves of divine trees, in a house made of wish-fulfilling gems, shining with wondrous beauty, the Mother shines, smiling in the heart of Supreme Śiva; one who meditates on her attains both enjoyment and liberation.
ब्रह्मेशाच्युतशक्राद्यैर्महर्षिभिरुपासिता। जगतः श्रेयसे साऽस्तु मणिद्वीपाधिदेवता
Worshipped by Brahmā, Īśa, Acyuta, Śakra, and other great sages, may she, the presiding deity of Maṇidvīpa, bring welfare to the world.
ॐ सर्वचैतन्यरूपां तां आद्यां विद्यां च धीमहि । बुद्धिं या नः प्रचोदयात्
Om. We contemplate that primal knowledge, the embodiment of all consciousness, who may inspire our intellect.
शौनक उवाच - सूत सूत महाभाग धन्योऽसि पुरुषर्षभ । यदधीतास्त्वया सम्यक् पुराणसंहिताः शुभाः
Śaunaka said: Sūta, Sūta, most fortunate one, best among men, you are blessed, for you have thoroughly studied the auspicious collections of Purāṇas.
अष्टादश पुराणानि कृष्णेन मुनिनानघ । कथितानि सुदिव्यानि पठितानि त्वयानघ
The eighteen Purāṇas, O sinless one, were narrated by the sage Kṛṣṇa; you, O sinless one, have recited and studied them, most divine.
पञ्चलक्षणयुक्तानि सरहस्यानि मानद । त्वया ज्ञातानि सर्वाणि व्यासात्सत्यवतीसुतात्
O bestower of honor, all the Purāṇas endowed with the five characteristics and full of secrets have been learned by you from Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī.
अस्माकं पुण्ययोगेन प्राप्तस्त्वं क्षेत्रमुत्तमम् । दिव्यं विश्वसनं पुण्यं कलिदोषविवर्जितम्
By the merit of our good deeds, you have come to this excellent and sacred place, divine, trustworthy, holy, and free from the faults of the Kali age.
समाजोऽयं मुनीनां हि श्रोतुकामोऽस्ति पुण्यदाम् । पुराणसंहितां सूत ब्रूहि त्वं नः समाहितः
This assembly of sages, eager to hear, is present here, O giver of merit; therefore, Sūta, recount to us with concentration the collection of Purāṇas.
दीर्घायुर्भव सर्वज्ञ तापत्रयविवर्जितः । कथयाद्य महाभाग पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम्
May you live long, be all-knowing, and free from the threefold miseries; O highly fortunate one, narrate today the Purāṇa, esteemed as equal to the Veda.
श्रोत्रेन्द्रिययुताः सूत नराः स्वादविचक्षणाः । न शृण्वन्ति पुराणानि वञ्चिता विधिना हि ते
O Sūta, those people who possess ears and other senses but lack discernment in enjoyment do not listen to the Purāṇas; truly, they are deceived by fate.
यथा जिह्वेन्द्रियाह्लादः षड्रसैः प्रतिपद्यते । तथा श्रोत्रेन्द्रियाह्लादो वचोभिः सुधियां स्मृतः
Just as the sense of taste is delighted by the six flavors, so too is the sense of hearing gladdened by words, as recognized by the wise.
अश्रोत्राः फणिनः कामं मुह्यन्ति हि नभोगुणैः । सकर्णा ये न शृण्वन्ति तेऽप्यकर्णाः कथं न च
Though serpents lack ears, they are still bewildered by the qualities of sound; those who have ears but do not listen—how are they not also earless?
अतः सर्वे द्विजाः सौम्य श्रोतुकामाः समाहिताः । वर्तन्ते नैमिषारण्ये क्षेत्रे कलिभयार्दिताः
Therefore, all the twice-born here, O gentle one, are assembled in Naimiṣāraṇya, eager to listen, afflicted by the fear of the Kali age.
येन केनाप्युपायेन कालातिवाहनं स्मृतम् । व्यसनैरिह मूर्खाणां बुधानां शास्त्रचिन्तनैः
Passing time is regarded in various ways: by misfortunes for the foolish, and by contemplation of the scriptures for the wise.
शास्त्राण्यपि विचित्राणि जल्पवादयुतानि च । त्रिविधानि पुराणानि शास्त्राणि विविधानि च । विताण्डाच्छलयुक्तानि गर्वामर्षकराणि च । नानार्थवादयुक्तानि हेतुमन्ति बृहन्ति च
The scriptures, too, are diverse, filled with debates and arguments; the Purāṇas are of three kinds, and the scriptures are of many types—marked by disputation, trickery, pride, and anger, containing various doctrines, reasoning, and expansiveness.
सात्त्विकं तत्र वेदान्तं मीमांसा राजसं मतम् । तामसं न्यायशास्त्रं च हेतुवादाभियन्त्रितम्
Among these, Vedānta is considered sāttvika, Mīmāṃsā is regarded as rājasika, and Nyāya, filled with arguments, is considered tāmasika.
तथैव च पुराणानि त्रिगुणानि कथानकैः । कथितानि त्वया सौम्य पञ्चलक्षणवन्ति च
In the same way, the Purāṇas are also threefold according to the guṇas and their narratives; and, O gentle one, you have described those endowed with the five characteristics.
तत्र भागवतं पुण्यं पञ्चमं वेदसम्मितम् । कथितं यत्त्वया पूर्वं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्
Among them, the Bhāgavata, the fifth, is holy and esteemed as equal to the Veda; it was previously narrated by you, complete with all characteristics.
उद्देशमत्रेण तदा कीर्तितं परमाद्भुतम् । मुक्तिप्रदं मुमुक्षूणां कामदं धर्मदं तथा
At that time, it was only briefly mentioned, though supremely wonderful; it grants liberation to those who seek it, and bestows desires and righteousness as well.
विस्तरेण तदाख्याहि पुराणोत्तममादरात् । श्रोतुकामा द्विजाः सर्वे दिव्यं भागवतं शुभम्
Now narrate that supreme Purāṇa in detail, with reverence; all the twice-born here desire to hear the divine and auspicious Bhāgavata.
त्वं तु जानासि धर्मज्ञ पौराणीं संहितां किल । कृष्णोक्तां गुरुभक्तत्वात् सम्यक् सत्त्वगुणाश्रयः
You, O knower of dharma, truly know the ancient collection of Purāṇas, as spoken by Kṛṣṇa, due to your devotion to your teacher and your firm foundation in the quality of sattva.
श्रुतान्यन्यानि सर्वज्ञ त्वन्मुखान्निःसृतानि च । नैव तृप्तिं व्रजामोऽद्य सुधापानेऽमरा यथा
Other teachings, O all-knowing one, have been heard and issued from your mouth, yet today we do not attain satisfaction, just as the gods do not by drinking nectar.
धिक्सुधां पिबतां सूत मुक्तिर्नैव कदाचन । पिबन्भागवतं सद्यो नरो मुच्येत सङ्कटात्
O Sūta, shame on the nectar that, even when drunk, never grants liberation; but by drinking the Bhāgavata, a man is instantly freed from distress.
सुधापाननिमित्तं यत् कृता यज्ञाः सहस्रशः । न शान्तिमधिगच्छामः सूत सर्वात्मना वयम्
O Sūta, though we have performed thousands of sacrifices for the sake of drinking nectar, we do not attain peace in any way.
मखानां हि फलं स्वर्गः स्वर्गात्प्रच्यवनं पुनः । एवं संसारचक्रेऽस्म्निन् भ्रमणं च निरन्तरम्
The fruit of sacrifices is heaven, but from heaven one falls again; thus, in this cycle of worldly existence, there is ceaseless wandering.
विना ज्ञानेन सर्वज्ञ नैव मुक्तिः कदाचन । भ्रमतां कालचक्रेऽत्र नराणां त्रिगुणात्मके
O Omniscient One, without knowledge, there is never liberation for people who wander in the wheel of time, which is composed of the three qualities.
अतः सर्वरसोपेतं पुण्यं भागवतं वद । पावनं मुक्तिदं गुह्यं मुमुक्षूणां सदा प्रियम्
Therefore, tell us of the virtuous Bhāgavata, full of all flavors, purifying, granting liberation, secret, and always dear to those who seek freedom.