व्रतादीनां च पूर्वो ऽयं विभागः समुदाहृतः
The divisions of vows and similar observances are set forth at the beginning.
शिवस्य संहितोक्ता वै विस्तरेण मुनीश्वर
The compendium of Śiva is stated there in detail, O best of sages.
स तु सर्वात्मना यस्यास्तीरे तिष्ठति संततम्
He who always stands on its bank with his whole being,
इदं ब्रह्म निराकारं कैवल्यं नर्मदाजलम्
This formless Brahman, liberation, is the water of the Narmadā.
शक्तिः कापि सरिदृपा रेवेयमवतारिता
Some extraordinary power has brought down this river Reva.
वसंति याम्यतीरे ये लोकं ते यान्ति वैष्णवम्
Those who dwell on the southern bank attain the world of Vishnu.
संगमाः पञ्च च त्रिंशन्नदीनां पापनाशनी
There are thirty-five confluences of rivers, destroyers of sin.
पञ्चत्रिंशत्तमः प्रोक्तो रेवासागरसगमः
The thirty-fifth is said to be the meeting of Reva and the ocean.
चतुःशतानि तीर्थानि प्रसिद्धानि च संति हि
There are indeed four hundred renowned sacred places.
संति चान्यानि रेवायास्तीरयुग्मे पदे पदे
And there are other sacred places at every step along both banks of the Reva.
नर्मदाचरितं यत्र वायुना परिकीर्तितम्
Where the story of Narmada, as told by Vayu, is recited.
श्रावण्यां यो ददेद्भक्त्या ब्राह्मणाय कुटुंबिने
Whoever, with devotion, gives to a householder Brahmin during the month of Shravana—
यः श्रावयेद्वा शृणुयाद्वायवीयमिदं नरः
Or whoever recites or listens to this account of Vayu—
यश्चानुक्रमणीमेतां शृणोति श्रावयेत्तथा
And whoever hears or causes to be heard this sequence—
सो ऽपि सर्वपुराणस्य फलं श्रवणजं लभेत्
He too obtains the fruit of hearing all the Puranas.
श्रीमद्भागवतं नाम पुराणं ब्रह्मसंमितम्
The Purana called the Srimad Bhagavata is esteemed by Brahma.
सुरपादपरूपो ऽयं स्कन्धैर्द्वादशभिर्युतः
It is like the form of the gods’ feet, consisting of twelve books.
तत्र तु प्रथमस्कन्धे सूतर्षीणां समागमे
There, in the first book, at the gathering of the sage Suta and others—
परीक्षितमुपाख्यानमितीदं समुदाहृतम्
The story of Parikshit is recounted as follows.
ब्रह्मनारदसंवादे देवताचरितामृतम्
In the dialogue between Brahma and Narada is the nectar of the deeds of the gods.
द्वितीयो ऽयं समुदितः स्कन्धो व्यासेन धीमता
This second book was composed by the wise Vyasa.
सृष्टिप्रकरणं पश्चाद्बह्मणः परमात्मनः
Afterwards comes the section on creation, of Brahma, the Supreme Self.
सत्याश्चरितमादौ तु ध्रुवस्य चरितं ततः
First, the account of Satyāścara, then the story of Dhruva.
इत्येष तुर्यो गदितो विसर्गे स्कन्ध उत्तमः
Thus, the fourth and most excellent section concerning creation has been described.
ब्रह्माण्डान्तर्गतानां च लोकानां वर्णनं ततः
Then comes the description of the worlds contained within the cosmic egg.
अजामिलस्य चरितं दक्षसृष्टिनिरूपणम्
The story of Ajāmila and the account of Dakṣa's creation follow.
षष्ठो ऽयमुदितः स्कन्धोव्यासेन परिपोषणे
This sixth section has been declared by Vyāsa for nourishment.
सप्तमो गदितो वत्स वासनाकर्मकीर्तने
The seventh, dear one, is said to be about actions and impressions.
समुद्रमथनं चैव बलिवैभवबन्धनम्
The churning of the ocean and the binding of Bali's power are also described.
सूर्यवंशसमाख्यानं सोमवंशनिरूपणम्
The narration of the Solar dynasty and the account of the Lunar dynasty.