एकोनविंशे विंशतिमे वृष्णिषु प्राप्य जन्मनी 1.
In the nineteenth and twentieth births, he incarnated among the Vṛṣṇis.
ततः कलेस्तु सन्ध्यान्ते सम्मोहाय सुरद्विषाम् 1.
Then, at the twilight of Kali, to delude the enemies of the gods,
अथ सोऽष्टमसन्ध्यायां नष्टप्रायेषु राजसु 1.
Thus, at the eighth twilight, when kings had nearly perished,
अवतारा ह्यसंख्येया हरेः सत्त्वनिधेर्द्विजाः 1.
O twice-born, the descents of Hari, the abode of existence, are countless.
तस्मात्सर्गादयो जाताः संपूज्याश्च व्रतादिना 1.
From him, creation and other acts arise, and are to be honored with vows and the like.
कथं व्यासेन कथितं पुराणं गारुडं तव 2.
How was the Garuḍa Purāṇa told to you by Vyāsa?
सूत उवाच तत्र दृष्टो मया व्यासो ध्यायमानः परेश्वरम् ।। 2.
Sūta said: There I saw Vyāsa, absorbed in meditation on the Supreme Lord.
तं प्रणम्योपविष्टोऽहं पृष्टवान्हि मुनीश्वरम् सूत उवाच 2.
Having bowed to him, I sat down and questioned that best of sages.
मन्ये ध्यायसि तं यस्मात्तस्माज्जानासि तं विभुम् 2.
I think that because you meditate on Him, you therefore know that all-pervading One.
श्रृणु सूत ! प्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणं गारुडं तव 2.
Listen, Sūta! I will tell you the Garuḍa Purāṇa.
दक्षनारदमुख्यैस्तु युक्तं त्वां कथमुक्तवान् 2.
How did you, together with Dakṣa, Nārada, and the foremost sages, receive this teaching?
अहं हि नारदो दक्षो भृग्वाद्याः प्रणिपत्य तम् 2.
I, Nārada, Dakṣa, Bhṛgu, and others, after bowing to Him—
पुराणं गारुडं सारं रुद्रं च मां यथा 2.
—received the essence of the Garuḍa Purāṇa and Rudra from Him, as did I.
कथं रुद्रं सुरैः सार्द्धमब्रवीद्वै हरिः पुरा 2.
How did Hari formerly speak to Rudra together with the gods?
अहं गतोऽद्रिं कैलासमिन्द्राद्यैर्दैवतैः सह 2.
I went to Mount Kailāsa together with Indra and the other deities.
पृष्टो नमस्कृतः किं त्वं देवं ध्यायसि शङ्कर ? 2.
Having bowed and asked, 'O Lord, are you meditating on Śaṅkara?'
सारात्सारतरं तत्त्वं श्रोतुकामः सुरैः सह रुद्र उवाच 2.12 सर्वदं सर्वगं सर्वं सर्वप्राणिहृदिस्थितम् 2.
Desiring to hear the most essential truth, even more subtle than the essence, together with the gods, Rudra spoke:
विष्णोराराधनार्थं मे व्रतचर्य्या पितामह 2.
For the sake of worshipping Viṣṇu, O Grandfather, I observe vows and disciplines.
विष्णुं जिष्णुं पद्मनाभं हरिं देहविवर्जितम् 2.
Viṣṇu, the victorious, the lotus-naveled, Hari, who is beyond embodiment—
युक्ता सर्वात्मनात्मानं तं देवं चिन्तयाम्यहम् 2.
With my whole being, I contemplate that God as my very self.
गुणभूतानि भूतेशे सूत्रे मणिगणा इव 2.17 अणीयसामणीयांसं स्थविष्ठं च स्थवीयसाम् 2.
The qualities exist in the Lord of beings like clusters of jewels on a thread—subtler than the subtlest, greater than the greatest.
यं वाक्येष्वनुवाक्येषु निषत्सूपनिषत्सु च 2.
Whom the words, the repetitions, and the Upaniṣads declare—
पुराणपुरुषः प्रोक्तो ब्रह्मा प्रोक्तो द्विजातिषु 2.
He is called the Primeval Person in the Purāṇas, and as Brahmā among the twice-born.
यस्मिंल्लोकाः स्फुरन्तीमे जलेषु शकुन्यो यथा 2.
In whom these worlds shimmer, like birds upon the waters.
अर्चयन्ति च यं देवा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः 2.
The gods, yakshas, rakshasas, and serpents worship him.
चन्द्रादित्यौ च नयने तं देवं चिन्तयाम्यहम् 2.
The moon and sun are his eyes; I contemplate that god.
यस्योच्छ्वासश्च पवनः तं देवं चिन्तयाम्यहम् 2.
Whose breath is the wind; I contemplate that god.
कुक्षौ समुद्राश्चत्वारस्तं देवं चिन्तयाम्यहम् 2.
In whose belly are the four oceans; I contemplate that god.
अनादिरादिर्विश्वस्य तं देवं चिन्तयाम्यहम् 2.
The beginningless origin of the universe; I contemplate that god.
मुखादग्निश्च संजज्ञे तं देवं चिन्तयाम्यहम् 2.
From whose mouth fire was born; I contemplate that god.