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.
समाराध्यः स एवात्र सर्वैः सर्वार्थकाङ्क्षिभिः
He alone is to be worshipped here by all who desire every object.
के देवाः पूजनीयाश्च विष्णुपादपरायणैः
Which gods are to be worshipped by those devoted to the feet of Viṣṇu?
दीक्षणं प्रातराद्यं च कृत्यं स्याद्यत्तदुच्यताम्
Let the morning initiation and the prescribed rite be declared, whatever it may be.
प्रीयेत परमात्मा वै तद्ब्रूत मम मानदाः
May the Supreme Self be pleased; tell me that, O givers of honor.
सनत्कुमारो भगवानुवाचार्कसमद्युतिः
The venerable Sanatkumara, radiant like the sun, spoke.
यज्ज्ञात्वामलया भक्त्या साधयेद्विष्णुमव्ययम्
By knowing this, with pure devotion, one attains the imperishable Vishnu.
भोगमोक्षक्रियाचर्याह्वया पादाः प्रकीर्तिताः
The stages called enjoyment, liberation, action, and conduct are enumerated.
पतिस्तत्र शिवोह्येको जीवास्तु पशवः स्मृताः
There, Shiva alone is the master; the living beings are remembered as the cattle.
तावत्पशुत्वमेतेषां द्वैतवत्पश्य नारद
So long as duality exists, O Narada, these beings remain in the state of cattle.
पशवस्त्रिविधाश्चापि विज्ञाताः कलसंज्ञिकाः
The cattle are also known to be threefold, bearing the designation 'kala.'