पुराणं सुमहत्पुण्यं पठतां शृण्वतां सदा
For those who always read or listen to this great and meritorious Purana,
मार्कण्डेयपुराणं तन्नवसाहस्रमीरितम्
This is the Markandeya Purana, proclaimed in nine thousand verses.
पक्षिणां धर्मसंज्ञानं ततो जन्मनिरूपणम्
It contains the teaching on the dharma of birds, and then the account of births.
तीर्थयात्रा बलस्याथ द्रौपदेयकथानकम्
The pilgrimage of Bala, and then the tale of the sons of Draupadi.
पितापुत्रसमाख्यानं दत्तात्रेयकथ ततः
The story of father and son, and then the tale of Dattatreya.
मदालकसाकथा प्रोक्ता ह्यलर्कचरितान्विता
The story of Madalaka is told, along with the deeds of Alarka.
कल्पान्तकालनिर्देशो यक्षसृष्टिनिरूपणम्
The description of the end of the kalpa, and the account of the creation of the Yakshas.
मनूनां च कथा नानाकीर्तिताः पापहारिकाः
And the stories of the Manus, variously recounted, which remove sin.
तत्पश्चात्प्रणवोत्पत्तिस्त्रयीतेजः समुद्भवा
After that, the origin of the syllable Om, arising from the threefold Vedic energy.
वैवस्वतान्वयश्चापि वत्सप्रीश्चरितं ततः
Then the lineage of Vaivasvata, and the deeds of Vatsapri.
अविक्षिच्चरितं चैव किमिच्छव्रतकीर्त्तनम्
Also the deeds of Avikshi, and the account of the Kimichcha vow.
नलस्य चरितं पश्चाद्रामचन्द्रस्य सत्कथा
After that, the story of Nala, and the noble tale of Ramachandra.
पुरुरवः कथा पुण्या नहुषस्य कथाद्भुता
The meritorious story of Pururavas, and the wondrous tale of Nahusha.
श्रीकृष्णबालचरितं माथुरं चरितं ततः
The childhood deeds of Shri Krishna, and then the tale of Mathura.
ततः सांख्यसमुद्देशः प्रपञ्चासत्त्वकीर्तनम्
Then the exposition of Samkhya, and the account of the reality of the cosmos.
यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या पुराणमिदमादरात्
Whoever listens to this Purana with devotion and respect—
यस्तु व्याकुरुते चैतच्छैवं स लभते पदम्
But whoever recites this in this manner attains the supreme state.
कार्तिक्यां द्विजवर्याय स लभेन्द्ब्रह्मणः पदम्
On the day of Kārtikā, if he recites it to a distinguished twice-born, he attains the abode of Brahman.
मार्कण्डेयपुराणस्य स लभेद्वाञ्छितं फलम्
He obtains the desired fruit of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa.
ईशानकल्पवृत्तान्तं वसिष्ठायानलो ऽब्रवीत्
Anala spoke to Vasiṣṭha the account of the conduct of Īśāna.
पठतां शृण्वतां चैव सर्वपापहरं नृणाम्
For those who recite and listen to it, it destroys all sins of men.
सृष्टिप्रकरणं चाथ विष्णुपूजादिकं ततः
Then, the section on creation, and after that, the worship of Viṣṇu and related topics.
सर्वदीक्षाविधानं च अभिषेकनिरूपणम्
Also, the procedures for all initiations and the explanation of consecration.
पवित्रारोपणविधिर्देवालयविधिस्ततः
The rite of investing with the sacred thread, and then the procedure for building temples.
न्यासादीनां विधानं च प्रतिष्ठापूर्तकं ततः
The procedures for nyāsa and related rites, and then the establishment and completion ceremonies.
प्रतिष्ठा सर्वदेवानां ब्रह्मण्डस्य निरूपणम्
The installation of all deities and the description of the cosmic egg.
ऊर्द्ध्वाधोलोकरचना ज्योतिश्चक्रनिरूपणम्
The creation of the upper and lower worlds, and the explanation of the wheel of light.
षट्कर्म च ततः प्रोक्तं मन्त्रमन्त्रौषधीगणः
Then, the six rites are described, along with the collection of mantras and medicinal herbs.
कोटिहोमविधानं च मन्वन्तरनिरूपणम्
The procedure for a crore of fire sacrifices, and the description of the Manvantaras.
ग्रहयज्ञस्ततः प्रोक्तोवैदिकस्मार्तकर्म च
Then, the rites for the planets are described, as well as Vedic and Smārta rituals.