इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां वेनोपाख्याने पंचविंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred twenty-fifth chapter in the story of Vena, in the Bhumikhanda of the glorious Padma Purana, in the collection of fifty-five thousand verses.
नमामि गोविन्दपदारविंदं सदेंदिरावंदितमुत्तमाढ्यम् । जगज्जनानां हृदि संनिविष्टं महाजनैकायनमुत्तमोत्तमम्
I bow to the lotus feet of Govinda, praised by Indira and the best of the exalted, abiding in the hearts of all beings, the supreme refuge of the great and the best among the best.
एकदा मुनयः सर्वे ज्वलज्ज्वलनसन्निभाः । हिमवद्वासिनः सर्वे मुनयो वेदपारगाः
Once, all the sages, blazing like fire, dwelling in the Himalayas, all accomplished in the Vedas,
त्रिकालज्ञा महात्मानो नानापुण्यसमाश्रयाः । महेंद्राद्रिरता ये च ये च विंध्यनिवासिनः
knowers of the three times, great souls, established in various merits, those devoted to Mount Mahendra and those residing on the Vindhya,
येऽर्बुदारण्यनिरताः पुष्करारण्यवासिनः । श्रीशैलनिरता ये च कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासिनः
those engaged in the Arbudā forest, those living in the Puṣkara forest, those devoted to Śrīśaila, and those residing in Kurukṣetra,
धर्म्मारण्यरता ये च दंडकारण्यवासिनः । जंबूमार्गरता ये च ये च सत्यनिवासिनः
those devoted to the Dharmāraṇya, those living in the Daṇḍaka forest, those devoted to the Jambū path, and those residing in Satya,
एते चान्ये च बहवः सशिष्या मुनयोऽमलाः । नैमिषं समुपायाताः शौनकं द्रष्टुमुत्सुकाः
these and many other pure sages with their disciples, eager to see Śaunaka, came together to Naimiṣa.
तं पूजयित्वा विधिवत्तेन ते च सुपूजिताः । आसनेषु विचित्रेषु बृस्यादिषु यथाक्रमम्
Having worshipped him according to the proper rites, and being duly honored by him, they sat in various splendid seats and on mats, each in order.
शौनकेन प्रदत्तेषु आसीनास्ते तपोधनाः । कृष्णाश्रिताः कथाः पुण्याः परस्परमथाब्रुवन्
Seated on the seats provided by Śaunaka, those ascetics, devoted to austerity, began to speak among themselves of sacred stories connected with Kṛṣṇa.
कथांतेषु ततस्तेषां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । आजगाम महातेजाः सूतस्तत्र महाद्युतिः
As their stories ended, among those sages of purified minds, there arrived the illustrious Sūta, radiant with great splendor.
व्यासशिष्यः पुराणज्ञो रोमहर्षणसंज्ञकः । तान्प्रणम्य यथान्यायं स तैश्चैवाभिपूजितः
A disciple of Vyāsa, knower of the Purāṇas, named Romaharṣaṇa, after bowing to them as is proper, was also honored by them.
उपविष्टं यथायोग्यं शौनकाद्या महर्षयः । व्यासशिष्यं सुखासीनं सूतं वै रोमहर्षणम्
The great sages, beginning with Śaunaka, seated Romaharṣaṇa, the Sūta and disciple of Vyāsa, comfortably and appropriately.
तं पप्रच्छुर्महाभागाः शौनकाद्यास्तपोधनाः । ऋषय ऊचुः-। पौराणिक महाबुद्धे रोमहर्षण सुव्रत
Those blessed sages, headed by Śaunaka, rich in austerity, questioned him: The sages said: O learned one in the Purāṇas, great in wisdom, Romaharṣaṇa, steadfast in vows,
त्वत्तः श्रुता महापुण्याः पुरा पौराणिकीः कथाः । सांप्रतं च प्रवृत्ताः स्म कथायां सक्षणा हरेः
From you we have previously heard the highly meritorious ancient stories; now we are engaged in the narration of the acts of Hari.
स वै पुंसां परोधर्मो यतो भक्तिरधोक्षजे । पुनः पुराणमाचक्ष्व हरिवार्ता समन्वितम्
That indeed is the supreme duty of men, from which devotion to the Transcendent arises; therefore, tell again the Purāṇa filled with tales of Hari.
हरेरन्या कथा सूत श्मशानसदृशी स्मृता । हरिस्तीर्थस्वरूपेण स्वयं तिष्ठति तच्छ्रुतम्
O Sūta, stories other than those of Hari are considered like cremation grounds; Hari himself abides in the form of sacred places, this is heard.
तीर्थानां पुण्यदातॄणां नामानि किल कीर्तय । कुत एतत्समुत्पन्नं केन वा परिपाल्यते
Recite, indeed, the names of those sacred places that bestow merit; from where did these arise, and by whom are they maintained?
कस्मिन्विलयमभ्येति जगदेतच्चराचरम् । क्षेत्राणि कानि पुण्यानि के च पूज्याः शिलोच्चयाः
Into what do all these moving and unmoving worlds dissolve? Which fields are meritorious, and which revered clusters of stones?
नद्यश्च काः पराः पुण्या नृणां पापहराः शुभाः । एतत्सर्वं महाभाग कथयस्व यथाक्रमम्
Which rivers are supreme, holy, auspicious, and removers of sin for men? O blessed one, tell all this in proper order.
सूत उवाच-। साधुसाधु महाभागाः साधुपृष्टं तपोधनाः । तं प्रणम्य प्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणं पद्मसंज्ञकम्
Sūta said: Excellent, excellent, O blessed ones, you have asked well, O ascetics; bowing to you, I shall relate the Purāṇa called Padma.
पाराशर्यं परमपुरुषं विश्ववेद्यैकयोनिं विद्याधारं विपुलमतिदं वेदवेदांतवेद्यम् । शश्वच्छांतं स्वमतिविषयं शुद्धतेजोविशालं वेदव्यासं विततयशसं सर्वदाहं नमामि
I always bow to Vyāsa, the son of Parāśara, the supreme person, the sole source known by all, the support of knowledge, of vast and profound intellect, who is to be realized through the Vedas and Vedānta, ever peaceful, self-abiding, beyond the senses, of pure and immense brilliance, and of widespread fame.
नमो भगवते तस्मै व्यासायामिततेजसे । यस्य प्रसादाद्वक्ष्यामि नारायणकथामिमाम्
Salutations to that blessed Vyāsa, of immeasurable radiance, by whose grace I shall speak this narrative of Nārāyaṇa.
प्रवक्ष्यामि महापुण्यं पुराणं पद्मसंज्ञितम् । सहस्रं पंचपंचाशत्षड्भिः खंडैः समन्वितम्
I shall now relate the highly meritorious Purāṇa called Padma, which consists of one thousand sections, together with fifty-six divisions.
तत्रादावादिखंडं स्याद्भूमिखंडं ततः परम् । ब्रह्मखंडं च तत्पश्चात्ततः पातालखंडकम्
Therein, at the beginning, is the Ādikhaṇḍa, then the Bhūmikhaṇḍa follows; after that is the Brahmakhaṇḍa, and then the Pātālakhaṇḍa.
क्रियाखंडं ततः ख्यातमुत्तरं खंडमंतिमम् । एतदेव महापद्ममद्भुतं यन्मयं जगत्
Next is the renowned Kriyākhaṇḍa, and finally the Uttarakhaṇḍa; this is the wondrous Mahāpadma, by which the world is pervaded.
तद्वृत्तांताश्रयं तस्मात्पाद्ममित्युच्यते बुधैः । एतत्पुराणममलं विष्णुमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Because it is based on those events, the wise call it Padma; this spotless Purāṇa is the supreme glorification of Viṣṇu.
देवदेवोहरिर्यद्वै ब्रह्मणे प्रोक्तवान्पुरा । ब्रह्मा तन्नारदायाह नारदोऽस्मद्गुरोः पुरः
That which the god of gods, Hari, once spoke to Brahmā, Brahmā told to Nārada, and Nārada spoke before my revered teacher.
व्यासः सर्वपुराणानि सेतिहासानि संहिताः । अध्यापयामास मुहुर्मामतिप्रियमात्मनः
Vyāsa repeatedly taught me all the Purāṇas, the Itihāsas, and the Saṃhitās, which were most dear to his heart.
तत्तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणमतिदुर्लभम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा ब्रह्महत्यादि पापेभ्यो मुच्यते नरः
That very rare Purāṇa I shall now fully relate to you; by hearing it, a person is freed from sins such as the slaying of a Brāhmaṇa.
सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकं च लभते शृणुते हि यः । श्रद्धया परया भक्त्या श्रुतमात्रेण मुक्तिदः
Whoever listens with supreme faith and devotion attains the merit of bathing in all sacred waters; merely by hearing, liberation is granted.