Kurma Purana

अनादिनिधनं देवं वासुदेवं सनातनम्

The beginningless and imperishable god, Vasudeva, the eternal one.

एष एव विधिर्ब्राह्मे भावने चान्तिके मतः

This is the very method considered supreme in Brahmanical contemplation.

इन्द्रद्युम्नाय मुनये कथितं यन्मया पुरा

What was formerly narrated by me to the sage Indradyumna.

तदीश्वरः परं ब्रह्म तस्माद् ब्रह्ममयं जगत्

That Lord is the supreme Brahman; therefore, the universe is composed of Brahman.

तुष्टुवुर्मुनयो विष्णुं शक्रेण सह माधवम्

The sages, together with Indra, praised Mādhava, Viṣṇu.

नारायणाय विश्वाय वासुदेवाय ते नमः

Homage to Nārāyaṇa, the all-pervading one, to Vāsudeva, to you.

माधवाय नमस्तुभ्यं नमो यज्ञेश्वराय च

Salutations to you, Mādhava, and to the Lord of sacrifice.

नमः सहस्रहस्ताय सहस्रचरणाय च

Homage to the one with a thousand hands and a thousand feet.

आनन्दाय नमस्तुभ्यं मायातीताय ते नमः

Salutations to you, embodiment of bliss; homage to you who transcend illusion.

पुरुषाय पुराणाय सत्तामात्रस्वरूपिणे

To the Person, the Ancient One, whose form is pure existence—salutations.

धर्मज्ञानाधिगम्याय निष्कलाय नमो नमः

Homage, again and again, to the one attainable through dharma and knowledge, who is without parts.

परावराणां प्रभवे वेदवेद्याय ते नमः

Salutations to you, Lord of all that is high and low, who is known through the Vedas.

नमो नमो नमस्तुभ्यं मायिने वेधसे नमः

Homage, homage, again and again to you, the magician, the creator.

वामनाय नमस्तुभ्यं हृषीकेशाय ते नमः

Salutations to you, Vāmana; homage to you, Hṛṣīkeśa.

स्वर्गापवर्गदात्रे च नमो ऽप्रतिहतात्मने

Homage to the giver of heaven and liberation, to the one whose self is unobstructed.

देवानां पतये तुभ्यं देवार्तिशमनाय ते

To you, Lord of the gods, to you who dispel the distress of the gods.

अस्माभिर्विदितं ज्ञानं यज्ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते

The knowledge known by us, by knowing which one attains immortality.

सर्गश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च ब्रह्माण्यस्यास्य विस्तरः

Creation and dissolution, and the vastness of this Brahman—

त्रातुमर्हस्यनन्तात्मंस्त्वमेव शरणं गतिः

You alone, O infinite self, are able to protect; you are the refuge and the goal.

कौर्मं पुराणमखिलं यज्जगाद गदाधरः

The entire Kurma Purāṇa was spoken by Gadādhara.

मोहायाशेषभूतानां वासुदेवेन योजनम्

The arrangement by Vāsudeva was for the delusion of all beings.

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां यथावल्लक्षणं शुभम्

The auspicious characteristics of dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa have been described as they truly are.

एकत्वं च पृथक्त्वं च विशेषश्चोपवर्णितः

Unity and diversity, as well as their distinctions, have been explained.

वर्णाश्रमाणां कथितं यथावदिह लक्षणम्

The proper characteristics of the varṇas and āśramas have been set forth here.

हिरण्यगर्भसर्गश्च कीर्तितो मुनिपुङ्गवाः

The creation by Hiraṇyagarbha has been recounted, O best of sages.

ब्रह्मणः शयनं चाप्सु नामनिर्वचनं तथा

The resting of Brahmā upon the waters, and the explanation of his name, have likewise been told.

मुख्यादिसर्गकथनं मुनिसर्गस्तथापरः

The narration of the primary and subsequent creations, and also the creation of the sages, has been given.

धर्मस्य च प्रजासर्गस्तामसात् पूर्वमेव तु

The creation of beings by Dharma, which was earlier and of a tamasic nature, has also been described.

पद्मोद्भवत्वं देवस्य मोहस्तस्य च धीमतः

The birth of the Lord from the lotus, and his delusion, though wise, have been narrated.