पुराणं संप्रवक्ष्यामि यदुक्तं विश्वयोनिना
I shall now declare the Purāṇa, as spoken by the Source of the Universe.
पुराणसंहितां पुण्यां पप्रच्छू रोमहर्षणम्
The virtuous Purāṇa-saṃhitā was inquired about by the sages from Romaharṣaṇa.
इतिहासपुराणार्थं व्यासः सम्यगुपासितः
Vyāsa, having been properly worshipped, explained the meaning of the Itihāsas and Purāṇas.
द्वैपायनस्य भगवांस्ततो वै रोमहर्षणः
Then, the venerable Romaharṣaṇa, disciple of Dvaipāyana, received it.
मुनीनां संहितां वक्तुं व्यासः पौराणिकीं पुरा
Vyāsa of old composed the Purāṇic collection for the sages.
संभूतः संहितां वक्तुं स्वांशेन पुरुषोत्तमः
The Supreme Person himself, by a portion of his being, manifested to declare the collection.
वक्तुमर्हसि चास्माकं पुराणार्थविशारद
You, who are skilled in the meaning of the Purāṇas, are worthy to speak to us.
प्रणम्य मनसा प्राह गुरुं सत्यवतीसुतम्
Having bowed in mind, he addressed his teacher, the son of Satyavatī.
वक्ष्ये पौराणिकीं दिव्यां कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम्
I shall relate the divine Purāṇic tale that destroys sin.
न नास्तिके कथां पुण्यामिमां ब्रूयात् कदाचन
This sacred tale should never be told to a non-believer.
इमां कथामनुब्रूयात् साक्षान्नारायणेरिताम्
One should recite this tale, which was directly spoken by Nārāyaṇa.
वंशानुचरितं चैव पुराणं पञ्चलक्षणम्
The Purāṇa, with its five characteristics, also recounts the genealogies of lineages.
शैवं भागवतं चैव भविष्यं नारदीयकम्
The Śaiva, Bhāgavata, Bhaviṣya, and Nārada Purāṇas,
लैङ्गं तथा च वाराहं स्कान्दं वामनमेव च
The Laiṅga, Vārāha, Skānda, and also the Vāmana,
अष्टादशं समुद्दिष्टं ब्रह्मण्डमिति संज्ञितम्
The eighteenth is named the Brahmāṇḍa.
अष्टादशपुराणानि श्रुत्वा संक्षेपतो द्विजाः
Having heard the eighteen Purāṇas in brief, O twice-born,
तृतीयं स्कान्दमुद्दिष्टं कुमारेण तु भाषितम्
The third, the Skānda, is said to have been spoken by Kumāra.
दुर्वाससोक्तमाश्चर्यं नारदोक्तमतः परम्
The wondrous one spoken by Durvāsas, and then the one by Nārada.
ब्रह्माण्डं वारुणं चाथ कालिकाह्वयमेव च
The Brahmanda, Varuna, and also the one called Kalika.
पराशरोक्तमपरं मारीचं भार्गवाह्वयम्
Another, spoken by Parashara, and the one called Maricha and Bhargava.
चतुर्धा संस्थितं पुण्यं संहितानां प्रभेदतः
The sacred collections are established in fourfold form, according to their divisions.
चतस्त्रः संहिताः पुण्या धर्मकामार्थमोक्षदाः
There are four holy Samhitas, which bestow righteousness, desire, and liberation.
भवन्ति षट्सहस्त्राणि श्लोकानामत्र संख्यया
Here, the number of verses amounts to six thousand.
माहात्म्यमखिलं ब्रह्म ज्ञायते परमेश्वरः
All the greatness of Brahman, the Supreme Lord, is known.
वंशानुचरितं दिव्याः पुण्याः प्रासङ्गिकीः कथाः
The accounts of lineages, divine and holy incidental stories.
तामहं वर्तयिष्यामि व्यासेन कथितां पुरा
I shall relate that, which was formerly told by Vyasa.
मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा ममन्थुः क्षीरसागरम्
Having made Mandara the churning rod, they churned the ocean of milk.
बभार मन्दरं देवो देवानां हितकाम्यया
The god bore Mandara, desiring the welfare of the gods.
कूर्मरूपधरं दृष्ट्वा साक्षिणं विष्णुमव्ययम्
Seeing Vishnu, the imperishable, in the form of a tortoise, as witness.
जग्राह भगवान् विष्णुस्तामेव पुरुषोत्तमः
The blessed Vishnu, the Supreme Person, took hold of it.