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.
मोहिताः सह शक्रेण श्रियो वचनमब्रुवन्
Deluded, together with Shakra, they spoke to Shri.
कैषा देवी विशालाक्षी यथावद् ब्रूहि पृच्छताम्
Who is this goddess with wide eyes? Tell us truly, as we ask.
प्रोवाच देवीं संप्रेक्ष्य नारदादीनकल्मषान्
Having looked upon the goddess, Narada and the others, free from sin, spoke.
माया मम प्रियानन्ता ययेदं मोहितं जगत्
My beloved, endless Maya, by whom this world is deluded.
मोहयामि द्विजश्रेष्ठा ग्रसामि विसृजामि च
I delude, O best of twice-born, I devour and I create.
विज्ञायान्वीक्ष्य चात्मानं तरन्ति विपुलामिमाम्
Knowing and discerning the self, they cross over this vast (delusion).
ब्रह्मेशानादयो देवाः सर्वशक्तिरियं मम
Brahma, Ishana, and the other gods—all their powers belong to me.
प्रागेव मत्तः संजाता श्रीकल्पे पद्मवासिनी
Even before, from me arose Padmavāsinī, the goddess of fortune, in the auspicious age.
कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशा मोहिनी सर्वदेहिनाम्
She, Mohini, shines with the brilliance of millions of suns and bewilders all embodied beings.
मायामेतां समुत्तर्तुं ये चान्ये भुवि देहिनः
This Māyā must be overcome, and so must all other embodied beings on earth.