सरोभिः स्वच्छसलिलैर्लसत्काञ्चनपङ्कजैः
With lakes of clear water, shining with golden lotuses,
स्वर्द्धनीपातनिर् घृष्टं क्रीडद्भिश्चाप्सरोगणैः
Polished by the descent of heavenly streams, and with groups of Apsaras sporting there,
आमोदमुदितैर्नागैः सलिलैः पुष्करोद्धृतैः
With waters drawn from lotuses, gladdened by joyful elephants,
अथ श्वेताभ्रसदृशे शृङ्गे तस्य च भूभृतः
Then, on a peak of that mountain, white as a mass of clouds,
तस्याधस्तात्समासीनं योगिमण्डलमध्यगम्
Beneath it, seated in the midst of a circle of yogis,
भूतिभूषितसर्वाङ्गं नागभूषणभूषितम्
Adorned all over with sacred ashes, adorned with serpent ornaments,
तं दृष्ट्वा नारदो विप्रा भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरः
Seeing him, O Brahmins, Narada bowed his head in devotion.
ततः प्रसन्नमनसा स्तुत्वा वाग्भिर्वृषध्वजम्
Then, with a clear mind, he praised the Bull-bannered One with words.
अथापृच्छच्च कुशलं नारदं जगतां गुरुः
Then the Guru of the worlds asked Narada about his welfare.
सर्वेषां योगिवर्याणां शृण्वतां तत्र वाडवाः
As all the foremost yogis listened there, O Vadava,
स शिवः सादरं तस्य भक्त्या संतुष्टमानसः
That Shiva, with reverence, was pleased in mind by his devotion.
स लब्ध्वा शांभवं ज्ञानं शङ्कराल्लोकशङ्करात्
He, having obtained the knowledge of Shiva from Shankara, the benefactor of the world,
तत्रापि नारदो ऽभीक्ष्णं गतागतपरायणः
There too, Narada, constantly engaged in coming and going,
एतद्वः कीर्तितं विप्रा नारदीयं महन्मया
O Brahmins, this Narada's great teaching has been proclaimed to you by me.
चतुष्पादसमायुक्तं शृण्वतां ज्ञानवर्द्धनम्
Endowed with fourfold qualities, it increases knowledge for those who listen.
समाजे द्विजमुख्यानां तथा केशवमन्दिरे
In the assembly of foremost twice-born, and likewise in the temple of Kesava,
सेतौ काञ्च्यां कुशस्थल्यां गङ्गाद्वारे कुशस्थले
On the bridge, in Kanchi, in Kushasthali, at the gate of the Ganga, in Kushasthali,
स लभेत्सर्वय ज्ञानां तीर्थानां च फलं महत्
He attains all knowledge and the great fruit of the sacred places.
उपवासपरो वापि हविष्याशी जितेन्द्रियः
Whether devoted to fasting, eating havishyā food, or with controlled senses,
शिवभक्तिरतो वापि शृण्वन् सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात्
Or devoted to Shiva's worship, hearing this, one attains perfection.
कथितः सर्वपापघ्नः पठतां शृण्वतां सदा
This has been described as destroying all sins for those who recite and always listen.
सर्वेषामीप्सितं चेदं सर्वज्ञानप्रकाशकम्
This is desired by all and reveals all knowledge.
तथैव गाणपत्यानां वर्णाश्रमवतां द्विजाः
Likewise, for the followers of Ganesha and the twice-born who observe the varna and ashrama,
मन्त्राणां चैव यन्त्राणां वेदाङ्गानां विभागशः
And also for the mantras, yantras, and divisions of the limbs of the Vedas,
य एतत्पठते भक्त्या शृणुयाद्वा समाहितः
Whoever recites this with devotion or listens with concentration,
श्रुत्वेदं नारदीयं तु पुराणं वेदसंमितम्
Having heard this Narada Purana, which is in accordance with the Vedas,
भूमिदानैर्गवां दानै रत्नदानैश्च संततम्
With gifts of land, cows, and jewels, continually,
यस्तु व्याकुरुते विप्राः पुराणं धर्मसंग्रहम्
He who expounds, O Brahmins, the Purana, the compendium of dharma,
कायेन मनसा वाचा धनाद्यैरपि संततम्
By body, mind, speech, and also by wealth and other means, continually—
श्रुत्वा पुराणं विधिवद्धोमं कृत्वा सुरार्चनम्
Having listened to the Purāṇa as prescribed, having performed the sacrifice, and worshipped the gods—