धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च मोक्षश्चैवात्र कीर्त्यते सर्वेष्वपि पुराणेषु तद्विरुद्धं च यत्फलम्
Dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa are all mentioned here in every Purāṇa, as well as the results opposed to them.
सात्त्विकेषु पुराणेषु माहात्म्यमधिकं हरेः राजसेषु च माहात्म्यम् अधिकं ब्रह्मणो विदुः
In the Sāttvika Purāṇas, the greatness of Hari is predominant; in the Rājasa Purāṇas, the greatness of Brahmā is known to be foremost.
तद्वदग्नेश्च माहात्म्यं तामसेषु शिवस्य च संकीर्णेषु सरस्वत्याः पितॄणां च निगद्यते
Likewise, the greatness of Agni is told, and in the Tāmasa Purāṇas, that of Śiva; in the mixed Purāṇas, the greatness of Sarasvatī and the ancestors is recounted.
अष्टादश पुराणानि कृत्वा सत्यवतीसुतः भारताख्यानमखिलं चक्रे तदुपबृंहितम् लक्षेणैकेन यत्प्रोक्तं वेदार्थपरिबृंहितम्
Having composed the eighteen Purāṇas, the son of Satyavatī created the entire narrative called Bhārata, which was expanded by one hundred thousand verses, enriched with the meaning of the Vedas.
वाल्मीकिना तु यत्प्रोक्तं रामोपाख्यानमुत्तमम् ब्रह्मणाभिहितं यच्च शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम्
That supreme tale of Rāma, as spoken by Vālmīki and declared by Brahmā, which extends to a hundred crores in detail—
आहृत्य नारदायैवं तेन वाल्मीकये पुनः वाल्मीकिना च लोकेषु धर्मकामार्थसाधनम् एवं सपादाः पञ्चैते लक्षा मर्त्ये प्रकीर्तिताः
Having gathered it thus for Nārada, and again for Vālmīki, and by Vālmīki in the world as a means to dharma, desire, and wealth, thus these five and a quarter lakṣas are proclaimed among mortals.
पुरातनस्य कल्पस्य पुराणानि विदुर्बुधाः धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुराणानामनुक्रमम् यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स याति परमां गतिम्
The wise know the Purāṇas as belonging to the ancient cycle; blessed, renowned, and life-giving is the sequence of the Purāṇas. Whoever recites or hears it attains the highest state.
इदं पवित्रं यशसो निधानम् इदं पितॄणामतिवल्लभं च इदं च देवेष्व् अमृतायितं च नित्यं त्विदं पापहरं च पुंसाम्
This is pure, a treasure of fame, greatly beloved by the ancestors, and among the gods it is like immortality; indeed, this ever removes the sins of men.
अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि दानधर्मानशेषतः व्रतोपवाससंयुक्तान् यथामत्स्योदितानिह
Now I shall declare in full the duties of charity, together with vows and fasts, as set forth here in the Matsya.
महादेवस्य संवादे नारदस्य च धीमतः यथावृत्तं प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मकामार्थसाधकम्
In the dialogue of the great-minded Nārada and Mahādeva, I shall recount as it happened, that which accomplishes dharma, desire, and wealth.
कैलासशिखरासीनम् अपृच्छन्नारदः पुरा विनयनमनङ्गारिम् अनङ्गाङ्गहरं हरम्
Once, Nārada, with humility and without pride, questioned Hara, the destroyer of Kāma and his own limbs, as he sat upon the summit of Kailāsa.
भगवन्देवदेवेश ब्रह्मविष्ण्विन्द्रनायक श्रीमदारोग्यरूपायुर् भाग्यसौभाग्यसम्पदा संयुक्तस्तव विष्णोर्वा पुमान्भक्तः कथं भवेत्
O Lord, God of gods, leader of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Indra, endowed with auspiciousness, health, beauty, long life, fortune, and prosperity—how does a man become a devotee of you or Viṣṇu?
नारी वा विधवा सर्वगुणसौभाग्यसंयुता क्रमान्मुक्तिप्रदं देव किंचिद्व्रतमिहोच्यताम्
Or how does a woman, even if widowed but endowed with all virtues and good fortune, gradually attain liberation? O God, declare here any vow for that.
सम्यक्पृष्टं त्वया ब्रह्मन् सर्वलोकहितावहम् श्रुतमप्यत्र यच्छान्त्यै तद्व्रतं शृणु नारद
You have asked well, O Brāhmaṇa, for the welfare of all worlds. That vow which is heard here for peace—listen to it, O Nārada.
नक्षत्रपुरुषं नाम व्रतं नारायणात्मकम् पादादि कुर्याद्विधिवद् विष्णुनामानुकीर्तनम्
The vow called Nakṣatrapuruṣa, of the nature of Nārāyaṇa, should be performed from the feet upwards, in due order, with the recitation of Viṣṇu's names.
प्रतिमां वासुदेवस्य मूलर्क्षादिषु चार्चयेत् चैत्रमासं समासाद्य कृत्वा ब्राह्मणवाचनम्
One should worship the image of Vāsudeva at the beginning of the lunar mansions, having entered the month of Caitra, after arranging for a Brāhmaṇa to recite.
मूले नमो विश्वधराय पादौ गुल्फावनन्ताय च रोहिणीषु जङ्घे ऽभिपूज्ये वरदाय चैव द्वे जानुनी वाश्विकुमारऋक्षे
At Mūla, one should bow to Viśvadhara at the feet, to Gulphāvananta at the ankles; at Rohiṇī, the shanks are to be worshipped as Varada; at the two Jānu, or at Aśvikuṃāra, the knees.
पूर्वोत्तराषाढयुगे तथोरू नमः शिवायेत्यभिपूजनीयौ पूर्वोत्तराफल्गुनियुग्मके च मेढ्रं नमः पञ्चशराय पूज्यम्
At the conjunction of Pūrvā and Uttarāṣāḍhā, the thighs are to be worshipped with 'Obeisance to Śiva'; at the pair of Pūrvā and Uttarā Phalgunī, the loins are to be worshipped with 'Obeisance to Pañcaśara.'
कटिं नमः शार्ङ्गधराय विष्णोः सम्पूजयेन्नारद कृत्तिकासु तथार्चयेद्भाद्रपदाद्वये च पार्श्वे नमः केशिनिषूदनाय
The waist is to be worshipped with 'Obeisance to Śārṅgadhara Viṣṇu,' O Nārada; at Kṛttikā, likewise, and at the two Bhādrapadas, the sides are to be worshipped with 'Obeisance to Keśiniṣūdana.'
कुक्षिद्वयं नारद रेवतीषु दामोदरायेत्यभिपूजनीयम् ऋक्षे ऽनुराधासु च माधवाय नमस्तथोरःस्थलमेव पूज्यम्
The two flanks, O Nārada, are to be worshipped at Revati with 'Obeisance to Dāmodara'; at Anurādhā, the chest is to be worshipped with 'Obeisance to Mādhava.'
पृष्ठं धनिष्ठासु च पूजनीयम् अघौघविध्वंसकराय तच्च श्रीशङ्खचक्रासिगदाधराय नमो विशाखासु भुजाश्च पूज्याः
The back is to be worshipped at Dhaniṣṭhā as the destroyer of multitudes of sins; the arms are to be worshipped at Viśākhā with 'Obeisance to the Lord bearing the conch, discus, sword, and mace.'
हस्ते तु हस्ता मधुसूदनाय नमो ऽभिपूज्या इति कैटभारेः पुनर्वसावङ्गुलिपूर्वभागाः साम्नामधीशाय नमो ऽभिपूज्याः
The hands, indeed, are to be worshipped at Hasta with 'Obeisance to Madhusūdana'; the front parts of the fingers at Punarvasu with 'Obeisance to the Lord of the Sāmans,' O Nārada.
भुजंगनक्षत्रदिने नखानि सम्पूजयेन्मत्स्यशरीरभाजः कूर्मस्य पादौ शरणं व्रजामि ज्येष्ठासु कण्ठे हरिरर्चनीयः
On the day of the serpent constellation, one should worship the nails of the Matsya form; the feet of the Kurma form are to be honored. I seek refuge in them. During the Jyeshtha stars, the neck of Hari is to be worshipped.
श्रोत्रे वराहाय नमो ऽभिपूज्या जनार्दनस्य श्रवणेन सम्यक् पुष्ये मुखं दानवसूदनाय नमो नृसिंहाय च पूजनीयम्
In the ears, one should offer salutations to Varaha and worship them; by hearing, Janardana is properly honored. In the Pushya constellation, the mouth is to be worshipped for the slayer of demons, and salutations are to be offered to Narasimha, who is also to be worshipped.
नमो नमः कारणवामनाय स्वातीषु दन्ताग्रमथार्चनीयम् आस्यं हरेर्भार्गवनन्दनाय संपूजनीयं द्विज वारुणे तु
Salutations again and again to Vamana, the cause of all; during the Swati stars, the tips of the teeth are to be worshipped. The mouth of Hari, beloved of Bhrigu, is to be honored, O twice-born, and during Varuna, it is to be worshipped.
नमो ऽस्तु रामाय मघासु नासा संपूजनीया रघुनन्दनस्य मृगोत्तमाङ्गे नयने ऽभिपूज्ये नमो ऽस्तु ते राम विघूर्णिताक्ष
Salutations to Rama; during the Magha stars, the nose is to be worshipped for the delight of the Raghu lineage. On the best part of Mrigashira, the eyes are to be honored; salutations to you, Rama, with restless eyes.
बुद्धाय शान्ताय नमो ललाटं चित्रासु संपूज्यतमं मुरारेः शिरो ऽभिपूज्यं भरणीषु विष्णोर् नमो ऽस्तु विश्वेश्वर कल्किरूपिणे
Salutations to Buddha, the peaceful one; the forehead is to be worshipped during Chitra, being most worthy of honor for Murari. The head is to be worshipped during Bharani for Vishnu; salutations to Vishveshvara, in the form of Kalki.
आर्द्रासु केशाः पुरुषोत्तमस्य संपूजनीया हरये नमस्ते उपोषितेनर्क्षदिनेषु भक्त्या संपूजनीया द्विजपुंगवाः स्युः
During Ardra, the hair of Purushottama is to be worshipped; salutations to Hari. On the days of fasting and the constellation, the foremost twice-born should worship with devotion.
पूर्णे व्रते सर्वगुणान्विताय वाग्रूपशीलाय च सामगाय हैमीं विशालायतबाहुदण्डां मुक्ताफलेन्दूपलवज्रयुक्ताम्
At the completion of the vow, to the one endowed with all virtues, possessing the form, speech, and conduct of Sama singers, one should offer a golden, broad, long-armed, adorned with pearls, moonstones, and diamonds.
जलस्य पूर्णे कलशे निविष्टाम् अर्चां हरेर्वस्त्रगवा सहैव शय्यां तथोपस्करभाजनादियुक्तां प्रदद्याद्द्विजपुंगवाय
One should give to the foremost twice-born a representation of Hari placed in a full water pot, along with cloth, cows, a bed, and equipped with utensils and other items.