लक्ष्मीकल्पानुचरितं यत्र कूर्मवपुर्हरिः
Where Hari, in the form of the tortoise, performed deeds in the Lakshmi cycle,
इन्द्रद्युम्नप्रसंगेन प्राहर्षिभ्यो दयान्वितः
Compassionate through the story of Indradyumna, he brought joy to the sages,
यत्र ब्राह्माः पुरा प्रोक्ता धर्मा नानाविधा मुने
Where, O sage, the Brahmins of old proclaimed various kinds of dharmas,
तत्र पूर्वविभागे तु पुराणोपक्रमः पुरा
There, in the earlier section, the introduction to the Purana was formerly given,
वर्णाश्रमाचारकथा जगदुत्पत्तिकीर्तनम्
The account of the conduct of the varnas and ashramas, and the narration of the creation of the world,
ततः संक्षेपतः सर्गः शाङ्करं चरितं तथा
Then, in brief, the creation, and likewise the deeds of Shankara,
भृगुवंशसमाख्यानं ततः स्वायम्भुवस्य च
The narration of the lineage of Bhrigu, and then of Svayambhu,
दक्षसृष्टिकथा पश्चात्कश्यपान्वयकीर्तनम्
Afterwards, the story of Daksha's creation, and the account of Kashyapa's lineage,
मार्तण्डकृष्णसंवादो व्यासपाण्डवसंकथा
The dialogue between Martanda and Krishna, and the recounting of Vyasa and the Pandavas,
वाराणस्याश्च माहात्म्यं प्रयागस्य ततः परम्
The greatness of Varanasi, and then, above all, that of Prayaga,
उत्तरे ऽस्या विभागे तु पुरा गीतैश्वरी ततः
In the northern division of this, formerly, the goddess was sung,
नानाविधानां तीर्थानां माहात्म्यं च पृथक् ततः
Then, separately, the greatness of various kinds of sacred places,
अतः परं भागवतीसंहितार्थ निरूपणम्
After this, the exposition of the meaning of the Bhagavati Samhita,
पादऽस्याः प्रथमे प्रोक्ता ब्राह्मणानां व्यवस्थितिः
In the first section of this, the status of the Brahmins is declared,
द्वितीये क्षत्त्रियाणां तु वृत्तिः सम्यक्प्रकीर्तिता
In the second, the livelihood of the Kshatriyas is properly described,
तृतीये वैश्यजातीनां वृत्तिरुक्ता चतुर्विधा
In the third, the fourfold livelihood of the Vaishya caste is stated.
चतुर्थे ऽस्यास्तथा पादे शूद्रवृत्तिरुदाहृता
In its fourth foot, the conduct of a Śūdra is described.
पञ्चमे ऽस्यास्ततः पादे वृत्तिः संकरजोदिता
In its fifth foot, the conduct arising from mixed castes is stated.
इत्येषा पञ्चपद्युक्ता द्वितीया संहिता मुने
Thus, O sage, the second Saṃhitā is said to have five verses.
षोढा षट्कर्मसिर्द्धि बोधयन्ती च कामिनाम्
It teaches the sixfold accomplishment of duties and the desires of those who seek them.
चतुष्पदी द्विजातीनां साक्षाद्ब्रह्मस्वरूरिणी
The four-footed verse is the very form of Brahman for the twice-born.
ताः क्रमात्षट्चतुर्द्वीषुसाहस्राः परिकीर्तिताः
They are described in order as six, four, two, and a thousand.
पठतां शृण्वतां नॄणां सर्वोत्कृष्टगतिप्रदम्
For those who recite and listen, it grants the highest attainment.
ब्राह्मणाया यने दद्यात्स याति परमां गतिम्
He who gives it to a Brahmin attains the supreme goal.
यत्रोक्तं सप्तकल्पानां वृत्तं संक्षिप्य भूतले
Where the account of the seven Kalpas is briefly stated on earth,
उपक्रम्य तदुद्दिष्टं चतुर्द्दशसहस्रकम्
Having begun, that which is mentioned amounts to fourteen thousand.
ब्रह्मदेवासुरोत्पत्तिर्मारुतोत्पत्तिरेव च
The origin of Brahma, the gods, and the demons, as well as the origin of the wind,
मन्वन्तरसमुद्देशो वैश्यराज्याभिवर्णनम्
The summary of the Manvantaras and the description of the rule of the Vaiśyas,
पितृवंशानुकथनं श्रद्धाकालस्तथैव च
The narration of the lineages of the ancestors and likewise the time for faith,
कीर्तनं सोमवंशस्य ययातिचरितं तथा
The praise of the Soma dynasty and likewise the story of Yayāti,