O blessed one, now tell me what you wish to hear. May the pure waters of Puṣkara—white as the moon, foaming from the playful agitation of elephants and makaras, served by the foremost Brāhmaṇas devoted to their vows and discipline, sanctified by the gaze of Brahmā, the teacher of the three worlds, and adorned with beauty and delight—may those waters, remover of all inauspiciousness, purify you. In those days, the wise disciple of Vyāsa, known as Lomaharṣaṇa or Ugraśravas, sat apart as the Sūta. Having visited the hermitages of the sages, dear one, and having inquired into dharma in detail, he was now ready to speak fully of what he had heard from his teacher. O son, all the Purāṇas and the teachings of Vedavyāsa have been imparted to you; now, share them in detail with the assembled sages. At Prayāga, the best of sages gathered and questioned the Lord himself, receiving instruction as they sought to understand dharma. Yearning for a holy land, these sages were guided by the well-wishing Lord to Sunābha, who was divine in form, truthful, and possessed of auspicious valor. The Lord said to them, "This matchless wheel, which moves tirelessly, you should follow without distraction; by doing so, you will attain the good you seek. Wherever the rim of the wheel of dharma, as it moves, does not break, that place should be considered holy." Thus instructed by the Lord, he became invisible once more, and the rim of the wheel broke where the currents of the Ganges gathered. After this, at Naimiṣa, the sages performed a great and lengthy sacrifice. Ugraśravas was directed to go there and speak to them, answering their questions about dharma. So, Ugraśravas journeyed to those wise and eminent sages; approaching them, he greeted them with joined palms. The intelligent one pleased the sages with his respectful salutations, and the sacrificers, along with their assembly, were delighted with the presence of the great-souled Sūta. Coming together, the sages honored him as was proper, and they inquired, "From where have you come, O Sūta? From what land have you arrived here? O radiant one among the attendants, tell us the reason according to tradition." Ugraśravas replied, "I was instructed by my father, the wise disciple of Vyāsa. He told me: 'Go to the sages, serve them, and speak to them whatever they ask.' Let the venerable ones address me, and I will narrate the story they desire." Whether it was ancient legend, history, or the various kinds of dharma, the best of the sages listened eagerly to his sweet words. Then, among them, seeing Lomaharṣaṇa's trustworthiness and learning, there arose a desire to hear the Purāṇa. In that assembly was Śaunaka, head of the family, thoroughly learned in all the scriptures, wise, and a teacher in the forest of knowledge. Relying on this, the seeker of dharma addressed Ugraśravas: "O Sūta of great intellect, you are the foremost knower of Brahman. Vyāsa, having been properly served, drew forth from you a pure mind devoted to the Purāṇas, so that you might understand history and ancient lore. O wise one, among these foremost Brāhmaṇas, there is now a desire to hear the Purāṇa; you should recite it to them. All these great souls, assembled from various lineages, are expounders of Brahman; let them hear the portions of the Purāṇa relevant to each. "In this long and complete sacrificial session, you must narrate to the sages the Padma Purāṇa in its entirety, O greatly wise one. Tell us: How did the lotus arise, and how did Brahmā come to be there? How was creation accomplished by the one who emerged? Tell that as it truly happened." Thus questioned, Lomaharṣaṇa replied with auspicious words, speaking concisely and with reason: "I am pleased and honored by you, who are devoted to all dharmas and knowledgeable in the Purāṇas, for urging me here regarding the meaning of the Purāṇa. All that I have heard and that is well known, I will tell you; for this is the eternal duty of the Sūta, as recognized by the virtuous. "The preservation of the lineages of the gods, sages, and kings of immeasurable splendor, and the praises of great souls, must be undertaken. Those who are expounders of Brahman are seen in the histories and Purāṇas, for no Sūta is seen to have authority in the Vedas. "For, during the sacrifice of the great soul King Pṛthu, the Māgadha and the Sūta praised that lord of men. Then, pleased, the great king granted them a boon: the Sūtas received the domain of the Sūtas, and the Māgadhas that of the Māgadhas. There, at the time of the sacrifice, a Sūta was born; in this world, he is called Sūta. When the Indra-sacrifice is commenced, with Bṛhaspati joined to the planets, that very Indra, in the sacrifice of Bṛhaspati, there the Sūta was born. By the hand of a disciple, what was poured out overcame the offering of the teacher. "Through a lower and upper stream, that mixture of castes was born; where, from a Kṣatriya and a Brāhmaṇa woman, offspring arose. By similarity with the former, their differences are described; this is the middle duty of the Sūta, one who lives by the field. "In the Purāṇas, my authority has been established here by the Brāhmaṇas; seeing the law, I have been questioned by you, O speakers of Brahman. Therefore, I shall rightly declare on earth the Purāṇa, honored by sages. "Know that the mind-born daughter of the ancestors became the wife of Vāsava. Rejected by the ancestors, she entered the womb of a fish; like the kindling stick for the fire, she became the cause of a virtuous birth. In her was born the pure-souled great sage, from Parāśara. To that blessed one, the truthful creator, I offer homage." Thus did Lomaharṣaṇa begin to narrate, in the sacred assembly, the ancient and auspicious tales.