पुराणमुत्तमं पुण्यं श्रीमद्भागवताभिधम् । अष्टादश सहस्राणि श्लोकास्तत्र तु संस्कृताः
The supreme, virtuous Purāṇa called the Śrīmad Bhāgavata contains eighteen thousand well-composed verses.
स्कन्धा द्वादश चैवात्र कृष्णेन विहिताः शुभाः । त्रिशतं पूर्णमध्याया अष्टादशयुताः स्मृताः
There are twelve auspicious books (skandhas) in it, composed by Kṛṣṇa; the chapters are reckoned as three hundred in full, amounting to eighteen tens.
विंशतिः प्रथमे तत्र द्वितीये द्वादशैव तु । त्रिंशच्चैव तृतीये तु चतुर्थे पञ्चविंशतिः
There are twenty chapters in the first, twelve in the second, thirty in the third, and twenty-five in the fourth.
पञ्चत्रिंशत्तथाध्यायाः पञ्चमे परिकीर्तिताः । एकत्रिंशत्तथा षष्ठे चत्वारिंशच्च सप्तमे
There are thirty-five chapters in the fifth, thirty-one in the sixth, and forty in the seventh.
अष्टमे तत्त्वसङ्ख्याश्च पञ्चाशन्नवमे तथा । त्रयोदश तु सम्प्रोक्ता दशमे मुनिना किल
In the eighth, the enumeration of principles; in the ninth, fifty are likewise given; and in the tenth, thirteen are indeed declared by the sage.
तथा चैकादशस्कन्धे चतुर्विंशतिरीरिताः । चतुर्दशैव चाध्याया द्वादशे मुनिसत्तमाः
In the eleventh book, twenty-four are described; and in the twelfth, O best of sages, there are fourteen chapters.
एवं सङ्ख्या समाख्याता पुराणेऽस्मिन्महात्मना । अष्टादशसहस्रीया सङ्ख्या च परिकीर्तिता
Thus, the numbers have been stated in this Purāṇa by the great soul; and the total is proclaimed as eighteen thousand.
सर्गश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च वंशो मन्वन्तराणि च । वंशानुचरितं चैव पुराणं पञ्चलक्षणम्
Creation, dissolution, genealogies, the ages of Manus, and the accounts of dynasties—these are the five marks of a Purāṇa.
निर्गुणा या सदा नित्या व्यापिका विकृता शिवा । योगगम्याखिलाधारा तुरीया या च संस्थिता
She who is always without qualities, eternal, all-pervading, transformed, auspicious, accessible through yoga, the support of all, and established as the fourth state—
तस्यास्तु सात्त्विकी शक्ती राजसी तामसी तथा । महालक्ष्मीः सरस्वती महाकालीति ताः स्त्रियः
Her powers are of three kinds: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic; these goddesses are Mahālakṣmī, Sarasvatī, and Mahākālī.
तासां तिसॄणां शक्तीनां देहाङ्गीकारलक्षणः । सृष्ट्यर्थं च समाख्यातः सर्गः शास्त्रविशारदैः
The embodiment of these three powers, for the purpose of creation, is described as 'creation' by those learned in scripture.
हरिद्रुहिणरुद्राणां समुत्पत्तिस्ततः स्मृता । पालनोत्पत्तिनाशार्थं प्रतिसर्गः स्मृतो हि सः
From them, the origin of Hari, Brahmā, and Rudra is remembered; and for the purposes of preservation, creation, and destruction, the term 'dissolution' is used.
सोमसूर्योद्भवानां च राज्ञां वंशप्रकीर्तनम् । हिरण्यकशिप्वादीनां वंशास्ते परिकीर्तिताः
The genealogies of kings born from the moon and the sun are recounted, as are the dynasties of Hiraṇyakaśipu and others.
स्वायम्भुवमुखानां च मनूनां परिवर्णनम् । कालसङ्ख्या तथा तेषां तत्तन्मन्वन्तराणि च
The accounts of the Manus, beginning with Svāyambhuva, are described, along with the reckoning of their times and their respective ages.
तेषां वंशानुकथनं वंशानुचरितं स्मृतम् । पञ्चलक्षणयुक्तानि भवन्ति मुनिसत्तमाः
The narration of their dynasties is called 'the history of dynasties'; these, O best of sages, possess the five characteristics.
सपादलक्षं च तथा भारतं मुनिना कृतम् । इतिहास इति प्रोक्तं पञ्चमं वेदसम्मतम्
The Bhārata, composed by the sage, consists of one hundred thousand and a quarter verses; it is called 'Itihāsa,' the fifth Veda, accepted as such.
शौनक उवाच कानि तानि पुराणानि ब्रूहि सूत सविस्तरम् । कतिसङ्ख्यानि सर्वज्ञ श्रोतुकामा वयं त्विह
Śaunaka said: O Sūta, tell us in detail which are those Purāṇas; how many are they? We wish to hear, O all-knowing one.
कलिकालविभीताः स्मो नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । ब्रह्मणात्र समादिष्टाश्चक्रं दत्त्वा मनोमयम्
We, the dwellers of Naimiṣāraṇya, are fearful of the age of Kali; here, by the command of Brahmā, a mental wheel was given to us.
कथितं तेन नः सर्वान्गच्छन्त्वेतस्य पृष्ठतः । नेमिः संशीर्यते यत्र स देशः पावनः स्मृतः
He told us all to follow wherever its rim would go; the place where the rim falls apart is regarded as holy.
कलेस्तत्र प्रवेशो न कदाचित् सम्भविष्यति । तावत्तिष्ठन्तु तत्रैव यावत्सत्ययुगं पुनः
There, entry of Kali will never occur; let us remain there until the return of the age of truth.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य गृहीत्वा तत्कथानकम् । चालयन्निर्गतस्तूर्णं सर्वदेशदिदृक्षया
Hearing his words, taking that instruction, he swiftly set out, desiring to see all lands.
प्रेत्यात्र चालयंश्चक्रं नेमिः शीर्णोऽत्र पश्यतः । तेनेदं नैमिषं प्रोक्तं क्षेत्रं परमपावनम्
After departing, as he rolled the wheel here, its rim broke before our eyes; therefore, this place is called Naimiṣa, the supremely holy field.
कलिप्रवेशो नैवात्र तस्मात्स्थानं कृतं मया । मुनिभिः सिद्धसङ्घैश्च कलिभीतैर्महात्मभिः
The entrance of Kali is not permitted here; therefore, I have established this place together with the sages and assemblies of accomplished ones, who, being great souls, are fearful of Kali.
पशुहीनाः कृता यज्ञाः पुरोडाशादिभिः किल । कालातिवाहनं कार्यं यावत्सत्ययुगागमः
Sacrifices are performed here without the slaughter of animals, using offerings such as rice cakes and the like; this practice should be maintained until the coming of the Satya Yuga.
भाग्ययोगेन सम्प्राप्तः सूत त्वं चात्र सर्वथा । कथयाद्य पुराणं हि पावनं ब्रह्मसम्मतम्
By the conjunction of fortune, you, Sūta, have arrived here in every way; today, narrate the Purāṇa, which is purifying and approved by Brahmā.
सूत शुश्रूषवः सर्वे वक्ता त्वं मतिमानथ । निर्व्यापारा वयं नूनमेकचित्तास्तथैव च
O Sūta, we are all eager to listen, and you are indeed wise to speak; we are surely free from other occupations and united in mind as well.
त्वं सूत भव दीर्घायुस्तापत्रयविवर्जितः । कथयाद्य पुराणं हि पुण्यं भागवतं शिवम्
O Sūta, may you be long-lived and free from the threefold afflictions; today, narrate the auspicious and meritorious Bhāgavata Purāṇa.
यत्र धर्मार्थकामानां वर्णनं विधिपूर्वकम् । विद्यां प्राप्य तया मोक्षः कथितो मुनिना किल
In which, with due procedure, the description of dharma, artha, and kāma is given; and having obtained knowledge therein, liberation is taught by the sage.
द्वैपायनेन मुनिना कथितं यच्च पावनम् । न तृप्यामो वयं सूत कथां श्रुत्वा मनोरमाम्
That purifying narrative which was told by the sage Dvaipāyana—we do not grow satiated, O Sūta, by hearing that delightful story.
सकलगुणगणानामेकपात्रं पवित्र- ॥ मखिलभुवनमातुर्नाट्यवद्यद्विचित्रम् । निखिलमलगणानां नाशकृत्कामकन्दं
The sole vessel of all virtues, the pure and wondrous play of the Mother of all worlds, the destroyer of all impurities, and the root of all desires.