Hear now the sacred account of the Purāṇas and their merits, as revealed in the ancient verses. Whoever, after carefully copying the scripture and presenting it with a golden elephant during the auspicious month of Karttika, attains the reward of the lotus sacrifice. The teachings concerning the Ishana Kalpa, as spoken by the sage Vasiṣṭha to Agni, are known as the Agneya. If one writes down this account and gives it, accompanied by a golden lotus, in the month of Mārgashīrsha, observing all prescribed rites and offering a cow and sesame seeds, the text—numbering sixteen thousand verses—bestows the fruit of all sacrifices. Such a giver is honored in the heavenly realms. There is a narration regarding the greatness of the Sun, where the Four-faced Brahmā, within the context of the Aghora Kalpa, spoke to Manu about the maintenance of the world and the nature of living beings. This account, consisting of fourteen thousand five hundred verses and mostly concerning future events, is called the Bhavishya. Whoever, in the month of Pausha, on the full moon and free from envy, gives it together with a pot of jaggery, receives the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. The Purāṇa concerning the Rathantara Kalpa, related by Savarni to Nārada, is celebrated as the supreme glory of Krishna. Where the deeds of Brahmā and the Boar are repeatedly described, that is the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, which comprises eighteen thousand verses. Whoever gives this Purāṇa on an auspicious day, at the full moon in Māgha, is honored in Brahmā’s world. In another Purāṇa, Maheśvara, the great god, situated within the fiery liṅga, spoke for the sake of dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa, especially concerning the Agneya section. At the end of the kalpa, this is called the Laiṅga Purāṇa, declared by Brahmā himself. Whoever offers its eleven thousand verses, along with sesame and a cow during Phālguna, attains equality with Śiva. Again, regarding the greatness of the Great Boar, what Viṣṇu spoke to the Earth is known as the Vārāha Purāṇa. In connection with Manu and the kalpa, this Purāṇa is said to consist of twenty-four thousand verses. By offering a golden Garuḍa with a sesame cow to a householder brāhmaṇa at the full moon in the month of Madhu, one attains the Vaiṣṇava abode through the Boar’s grace. The Purāṇa describing the Śaiva dharmas, Ṣaṇmukha in the kalpa, and the deeds of Tatpuruṣa, adorned with many narratives, is called the Skānda Purāṇa. It is said to comprise eighty-one thousand one hundred verses. Whoever copies it and gives it, accompanied by a golden spear, attains the Śaiva state when the sun enters Pisces. The greatness of Trivikrama, as expounded by the Four-faced Brahmā, reveals the three aims of life and is known as the Vāmana Purāṇa. This Purāṇa, consisting of ten thousand verses and following the Kurma kalpa, is auspicious; whoever gives it at the autumnal equinox attains the Vaiṣṇava state. Where Janārdana, in the form of a tortoise, narrated the greatness of dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa in the netherworld, in connection with Indradyumna, to the sages in the presence of Śakra, there are eighteen thousand verses associated with the Lakṣmī kalpa. Whoever gives the Kurma Purāṇa, together with a golden tortoise at the solstice, obtains the reward of gifting a thousand cows. At the beginning of the kalpa, Janārdana, in the form of a fish, explained to Manu the account of Narasiṃha for the activity of the Vedas. Having set forth the account of seven kalpas to the great sages, this is known as the Matsya Purāṇa, consisting of fourteen thousand verses. Whoever gives, at the equinox, a golden fish together with a cow thereby gives the entire earth. During the Garuḍa Kalpa, Krishna spoke about Garuḍa arising from the cosmic egg, and that teaching concerning Garuḍa is told here. The section of eighteen thousand verses, joined with the golden swan, is recited; whoever gives it attains the highest accomplishment and abides in the realm of Śiva. Brahmā, having spoken again about the greatness of the cosmic egg, declared that the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa consists of twelve thousand and two hundred verses. Where the detailed accounts of future kalpas are heard, that is the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, as proclaimed by Brahmā. Whoever gives this Purāṇa at the time of its recitation, together with a woolen garment, obtains the reward of a thousand Rājasūya sacrifices, along with a golden cow, and gains the merit of Brahmā’s world. This entire work, comprising four hundred thousand verses, was composed by Vyāsa, the wondrous sage, and passed down by my father, my grandfather, and myself. For the welfare of the world, the supreme sage has briefly presented this, though among the gods it extends to a hundred billion verses. Now, let me describe the subdivisions established in the world. In the Padma Purāṇa, where the account of Narasiṃha is told, the Narasiṃha Purāṇa is said to be eighteen thousand verses. Where the greatness of Nandā is described by Kārttikeya, that is known as the Nandī Purāṇa. Where, with Sāmba as the focus, a narrative is told, that too is known as the Sāmba Purāṇa, as declared by sages. The wise know the Purāṇas of the ancient kalpa; the sequence of the Purāṇas brings prosperity, fame, and longevity. There, the name Āditya is also mentioned. Whatever Purāṇa is indicated as distinct from the eighteen, know, O best of twice-born, that it has arisen from these. The five features remembered in the Purāṇas are: narrative, creation, dissolution, genealogy, the cycles of Manus, and the deeds of descendants. These are the five marks of a Purāṇa. The greatness of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the Sun, Rudra, and of the world, along with dissolution and gifts, is described in the fivefold Purāṇa. Thus is the sacred account of the Purāṇas, their origins, their contents, and the blessings bestowed upon those who honor and give them according to prescribed rites.