यज्ञाय यज्ञभोक्ते च स्थविष्ठायाणवे ऽर्थिने
To Yajña, the enjoyer of sacrifice, the most mighty, the one who seeks the path;
ईज्याय साक्षिणे ऽजायबहुशीर्षाङ्घ्रिबाहवे
To the worshipful, the witness, the unborn, with many heads, feet, and arms;
अष्टप्रकृत्यधीशाय ब्रह्मणे ऽनन्तसक्तये
To the lord of the eightfold nature, to Brahman, of infinite power;
पुण्डरीकनिभाक्षाय क्षेत्रज्ञाय विभासिने
To the one whose eyes are like lotuses, the knower of the field, the radiant one;
सत्याय सत्यसंधाय वैकुण्ठायाच्युताय च
To the true, the steadfast in truth, to Vaikuṇṭha, to Acyuta;
घृतार्चिषे विष्णवे ते ऽनन्ताय कपिलायय च
To the one with ghee-like radiance, to Viṣṇu, to the infinite, to Kapila;
एकशृङ्गाय च शुचिश्रवसे शास्त्रयोनये
To Ekaśṛṅga, to Śuciśravas, to the source of the scriptures;
भूर्भुवुःस्वःस्वरूपाय दैत्यघ्ने निर्गुणाय च
To the one whose form is earth, atmosphere, and heaven, the slayer of demons, the qualityless one;
नमस्ते पाहि मामीश शरणागतवत्सल
Salutations to you, protect me, Lord, who cherishes those who seek refuge;
आरणेयमुवाचेदं भृशं प्रणतवत्सलः
Āraṇeya, greatly compassionate to those who bow, spoke this:
विद्यामाप्नुहि भक्तिं च ज्ञानी त्वं मम रूपधृक्
Obtain knowledge and devotion; you are wise, bearing my form.
सो ऽहमेवावतारार्थं स्थितो विश्वंभरात्मकः
I myself, for the sake of descent, have taken my stand as the soul of the universe.
वरलोकान्यथा वायुर्यथा रवं सविता तथा
Just as the wind pervades the worlds, and the sun fills sound, so too—
भक्तिर्हि दुर्लभा लोके मयि सर्वपरायणे
Devotion is rare in the world toward me, the supreme refuge of all.
आकल्पान्तः तपः संस्थौ नरनारायणावृषी
Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the sages, remained steadfast in their austerities until the end of the age.
कर्ता भागवतं शास्त्रं तदधीष्व भुवं व्रज
He composed the Bhāgavata scripture; study that, and go forth upon the earth.
त्वद्वियोगेन खिन्नात्मा तं प्रसादय मत्प्रियम्
My beloved, whose heart was afflicted by separation from you, please comfort him.
यथागतं निवृत्तो ऽसौ पितुरन्तिकमागमत्
Having turned back as he had come, he returned to his father's presence.
पुत्रं प्राप्य प्रहृष्टात्मा तपसो निववर्त ह
Upon regaining his son, his heart rejoiced, and he withdrew from his austerities.
आरणेयसमायुक्तः स्वाश्रमं समुपागमत्
Joined by the son of Āraṇa, he returned to his own hermitage.
चकार संहितां दिव्यां नानाख्यानसमन्विताम्
He composed a divine Saṃhitā, filled with various narratives.
निवृत्तिनिरतं पुत्रं शुकमध्यापयञ्च ताम्
He taught that Saṃhitā to his son Śuka, who was devoted to renunciation.
अधीतवान्संहितां वै नित्यं विष्णुजनप्रियाम्
He thoroughly learned the Saṃhitā, which is ever dear to the devotees of Viṣṇu.
पठतां शृण्वतां चापि हरिभक्तिविवर्द्धनाः
For those who recite and listen to it, devotion to Hari increases.
यत्त्वया पायिता विद्वन्वयं कृष्णकथामृतम्
O wise one, the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's stories that you have made us drink—
सनन्दनमुखोद्गीतान्किं पप्रच्छं ततः परम्
What further did I ask, after that, of those led by Sanandana?
चरन्ति लोकानन्तसिद्धा लोकोद्धरणतत्पराः
Perfected beings, intent on uplifting the worlds, move among the infinite worlds.
तेषां समागमे भद्रा का कथा लोकपावनी
In their company, what auspicious and world-purifying stories are there?
कथयिष्यामि तत्सर्वं यत्पृष्ट नारदर्षिणा
I shall recount all that was asked by Nārada, the seer.
नारदो भार्गवश्रेष्ठ पुनः पप्रच्छ तान्मुनीन्
Nārada, best of Bhārgavas, again questioned those sages.