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.
ग्रन्थसंख्याविषयवर्णनम् सूत उवाच धन्योऽहमतिभाग्योऽहं पावितोऽहं महात्मभिः । यत्पृष्टं सुमहत्पुण्यं पुराणं वेदविश्रुतम्
Sūta said: I am blessed, I am most fortunate, I am purified by the great souls, for you have asked about the supremely virtuous Purāṇa, renowned in the Vedas.
तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वश्रुत्यर्थसम्मतम् । रहस्यं सर्वशास्त्राणामागमानामनुत्तमम्
I shall now explain that which is approved by the meaning of all the Vedas, the supreme secret of all the scriptures and Āgamas.
नत्वा तत्पदपङ्कजं सुललितं मुक्तिप्रदं योगिनां ॥ ब्रह्माद्यैरपि सेवितं स्तुतिपरैर्ध्येयं मुनीन्द्रैः सदा । वक्ष्याम्यद्य सविस्तरं बहुरसं श्रीमत्पुराणोत्तमं
Having bowed to those beautiful lotus feet, bestower of liberation to yogis, always worshipped by Brahmā and others, praised and meditated upon by the foremost sages, I shall now narrate in detail the glorious Purāṇa, full of many flavors.
या विद्येत्यभिधीयते श्रुतिपथे शक्तिः सदाद्या परा ॥ सर्वज्ञा भवबन्धछित्तिनिपुणा सर्वाशये संस्थिता । दुर्ज्ञेया सुदुरात्मभिश्च मुनिभिर्ध्यानास्पदं प्रापिता
That which is called 'knowledge' in the path of the Vedas is the primal, supreme Power, all-knowing, skillful in cutting the bonds of existence, abiding in all beings, difficult to know for those of impure mind, but made the object of meditation by sages.
सृष्ट्वाखिलं जगदिदं सदसत्स्वरूपं शक्त्या स्वया त्रिगुणया परिपाति विश्वम् । संहृत्य कल्पसमये रमते तथैका तां सर्वविश्वजननीं मनसा स्मरामि
Having created this entire world, both manifest and unmanifest, by her own power of the three qualities, she sustains the universe; at the time of dissolution, she withdraws it and delights alone. I remember that Mother of all beings in my mind.
ब्रह्मा सृजत्यखिलमेतदिति प्रसिद्धं पौराणिकैश्च कथितं खलु वेदविद्भिः । विष्णोस्तु नाभिकमले किल तस्य जन्म तैरुक्तमेव सृजते न हि स स्वतन्त्रः
It is well known that Brahmā creates all this, as told by the Purāṇikas and those learned in the Vedas. But it is said that he is born in the lotus from Viṣṇu's navel; thus, he creates, but he is not independent.
विष्णुस्तु शेषशयने स्वपितीति काले तन्नाभिपद्यमुकुले खलु तस्य जन्म । आधारतां किल गतोऽत्र सहस्रमौलिः सम्बोध्यतां स भगवान् हि कथं मुरारिः
Viṣṇu lies on Śeṣa at the time of dissolution; from his navel, the lotus arises, and from it, Brahmā is born. The thousand-headed one becomes the support here; but how did that Lord, the slayer of Mura, become awakened?
एकार्णवस्य सलिलं रसरूपमेव पात्रं विना न हि रसस्थितिरस्ति कच्चित् । या सर्वभूतविषये किल शक्तिरूपा तां सर्वभूतजननीं शरणं गतोऽस्मि
The water of the single ocean is of the nature of essence; without a vessel, essence cannot remain. She who is the Power present in all beings—I take refuge in that Mother of all beings.
योगनिद्रामीलिताक्षं विष्णुं दृष्ट्वाम्बुजे स्थितः । अजस्तुष्टाव यां देवीं तामहं शरणं गतः
Seeing Viṣṇu, whose eyes were closed in yogic sleep, seated on the lotus, the Unborn one praised that Goddess; I have taken refuge in her.
तां ध्यात्वा सगुणां मायां मुक्तिदां निर्गुणां तथा । वक्ष्ये पुराणमखिलं शृण्वन्तु मुनयस्त्विह
Meditating on that Māyā, endowed with qualities and granting liberation, and also beyond qualities, I shall narrate the entire Purāṇa; let the sages here listen.