एतदाग्नेयकं विप्र पुराणं परिकीर्तितम्
O Brahmin, this Agneya Purana has thus been recounted.
तिलधेनु युतं चापि मार्गशीर्ष्यां विधानतः
It is accompanied by the gift of sesame and a cow, to be performed in the month of Margashirsha, according to rule.
एषानुक्रमणी प्रोक्ता तवाग्नेयस्य मुक्तिदा
This table of contents of your Agneya (section), which grants liberation, has been declared.
शृण्वतां पठतां चैव नृणां चेह परत्र च
For those who listen and recite it, both here and hereafter, among people—
भविष्यं भवतः सर्वलोकाभीष्टप्रदायकम्
—it will bring about the fulfillment of all desires in every world in the future.
सृष्ट्यर्थं तत्र संजातो मनुः स्वार्यभुवः पुरा
For the purpose of creation, Manu Svayambhuva was formerly born there.
अहं तस्मै तदा प्रीतः प्रावोचं धर्मसंहिताम्
At that time, pleased, I spoke to him the compendium of dharma.
तदा तां संहितां सर्वां पञ्चधा व्यभजन्मुनिः
Then that sage divided the entire compendium into five parts.
तत्रादिमं स्मृतं पर्वं ब्राह्मं यत्रास्त्युपक्रमः
There, the first section is called Brahma, where the introduction is found.
आदित्यचरितप्रायः सर्वाख्यानसमन्वितः
It is mostly about the deeds of the sun, and is filled with all kinds of narratives.
पुस्तलेखकलेखानां लक्षणं च ततः परम्
After that, the characteristics of books, writing, and inscriptions are described.
पक्षस्यादितिथीनां च कल्पाः सप्त च कीर्तिताः
And then, the seven kalpas concerning the first days of lunar fortnights are proclaimed.
शैवे च कायतो भिन्नाः सौरे चान्त्यकथान्वयः
In the Shaiva tradition, they are divided by body; in the Saura, the lineage is from the last story.
पुराणस्योपसंहारसहितं पर्व पञ्चमम्
The fifth section of the Purana includes its conclusion.
धर्मे कामे च मोक्षे तु विष्णोश्चापि शिवस्य च
In matters of dharma, desire, and liberation, both Vishnu and Shiva are included.
प्रतिसर्गाह्वयं त्वन्त्यं प्रोक्तं सर्वकथान्वितम्
The final section is called Pratisarga, and it is said to contain all stories.
चतुर्द्दशसहस्रं तु पुराणं परिकीर्तितम्
The Purana is described as consisting of fourteen thousand verses.
गुणानां तारतम्येन समं ब्रह्मेति हि श्रुतिः
According to the gradation of qualities, the Shruti declares them equally as Brahman.
गुडधेनुयुतं हेमवस्त्रमाल्यविभूषणैः
With sweetened cows, gold, garments, garlands, and ornaments,
गन्धाद्यैर्भोज्यभक्ष्यैश्च कृत्वा नीराजनादिकम्
After performing offerings such as incense, food, and sweets, along with waving of lights,
अथ वैकहविष्याशी कीर्तयेच्छृणुयादपि
Then, one who eats only once a day should recite or listen as well.
यो ऽप्यनुक्रमणीमेतां भविष्यस्य निरूपिताम्
Whoever recites this table of contents, which has been established for the future,
पठेद्वा शृणुयाच्चैतां भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च विन्दति
Whether one reads or listens to it, one attains both enjoyment and liberation.
ब्रह्मवैवर्तकं नाम वेदमार्गानुदर्शकम्
Brahmavaivarta is the name, showing the path of the Vedas.
नारदाय पुराणार्थं प्राह सर्वमलौकिकम्
It was spoken to Narada, conveying the meaning of the Purana, entirely transcending the worldly.
तयोरभेदसिद्ध्यर्थं ब्रह्मवैवर्तमुत्तमम्
For the purpose of establishing their non-difference, the excellent Brahmavaivarta was composed.
शतकोटिपुराणे तत्संक्षिप्य प्राह वेदवित्
In the hundred-crore Purana, the knower of the Vedas summarized it and spoke.
अष्टादशसहस्रं तत्पुराणं परिकीर्तितम्
That Purana is described as consisting of eighteen thousand verses.
तत्र सूतर्षिसंवादे पुराणोपक्रमस्ततः
There, in the dialogue between Suta and the sages, the introduction to the Purana follows.
विवादः सुमहान्यत्र द्वयोरासीत्पराभवः
A great dispute arose there between the two, resulting in defeat.