सहस्रनरनारीभिः पूज्यमानाः पदे पदे । गायंति विंशतिर्योषा रूपलावण्यकोमलाः
Honored at every step by thousands of men and women, twenty women, lovely in form, beauty, and softness, sing.
करंकवाहिनी चैका चामरासक्तबाहवः । तालवृंतद्वयं नार्य्यो वीजयंति प्रगृह्य वै
One rides an elephant, others hold fly-whisks in their hands; two women, holding palm fans, gently fan them.
सचक्रे चांकमध्ये स्या उपधानं तथापरः । एकस्याः करयोर्हस्तः स्तावकानेकसंयुतः
One places a cushion in the middle of the circle, another offers support; the hands of one woman are joined with those of another, accompanied by many praises.
नानाविधपरीहास कृतोत्फुल्लमुखांबुजः । एकैकत्र विमाने तु दृश्यते चंद्रदीधितिः
Their faces bloom with laughter from various kinds of playful jesting; in each celestial vehicle, the radiance of the moon is seen.
स्त्रीशतेषु विमानेषु दृश्यते ईश्वरः शुभः । एते किं पुण्यकर्तारो विष्णुमायाथवा मुने
Among the hundreds of women in the celestial vehicles, the auspicious Lord is seen; are these doers of merit, or is it Vishnu's illusion, O sage?
शंभुरुवाच- एते हि ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या गृहस्थाश्रमवासिनः । येषामेव च स ग्रासो दत्तो दशरथेन ते
Shambhu said: These are indeed virtuous Brahmins, householders; to whom that meal was given by Dasharatha.
तेषां तु ममचित्तानां कदाचिदभवन्मतिः । यथेह सुखिनः सर्वे वयं चान्योपजीविनः
Among those whose minds are mine, sometimes there was a thought: Just as all are happy here, we too live off others.
अस्मानेवानुजीवंति शतशो मनुजा इह । येन पुण्येन च वयं सर्वेकामानुमोदिनः
Hundreds of people here live dependent on us; by whatever merit, we all enjoy every desire.
सुस्त्रीकृतोपचाराश्च सर्वे राज्यसुखान्विताः । जरामरणहीनाश्च युवानः सर्वदैव हि
All are served by good women, all possess the happiness of sovereignty; free from old age and death, always youthful indeed.
विचार्यैवं द्विजाः सर्वे वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं ययुः । आगतानथ संपूज्य वसिष्ठो वाक्यमुक्तवान्
Having considered thus, all the Brahmins went to Vasistha's hermitage; and Vasistha, having welcomed them, spoke.
किमर्थमागता यूयं शीघ्रं ब्रूत द्विजोत्तमाः । द्विजा ऊचुः - वयमिच्छामहे सर्वे सर्वसंपत्समन्विते
Why have you come here? Speak quickly, O best of twice-born ones. The brahmins said: We all desire to dwell in a celestial chariot endowed with every prosperity.
विमाने कामगे रोढुं तत्संपादय नो गुरो । तत्तेषां चिंतितं श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Grant us, O teacher, the ability to ride at will in such a chariot; fulfill this wish of ours. Hearing their request, Vasiṣṭha spoke these words:
पुराणं सर्वदा विप्राः श्रोतव्यं पापनाशनम् । धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च मोक्षस्तत्रैव दृश्यते
O brahmins, the Purāṇa should always be heard, for it destroys sin; in it are found dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa.
तथेत्युक्त्वाथ सुनयः पुराणकुशलं मुनिम् । जग्मुरंगिरसं श्रेष्ठं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम्
Having said, 'So be it,' the wise ones then approached the sage skilled in the Purāṇas, the foremost of the Aṅgirasas, expert in all the scriptures.
सर्वागमपुराणज्ञं सदा सत्कर्म्मचारिणम् । इदमूचुर्नमस्कृत्य वयं सफलजीविनः
Knowing all the Āgamas and Purāṇas, always engaged in virtuous deeds, they bowed and said to him: 'We are those whose lives have borne fruit.'
कृतकृत्या वयं ब्रह्मन्साक्षाद्दृष्टोऽसि यन्मुने । अंगिरा उवाच- यत्कार्यमागता यूयं तत्कार्यं करवाण्यहम्
'We are fulfilled, O brāhmaṇa, for we have seen you directly, O sage.' Aṅgirā said: 'Whatever purpose you have come for, that I shall accomplish.'
पुराणं श्रोतुकामास्तु यूयमत्र समागताः । कीर्तयिष्ये विधानं वः समस्ताघविनाशनम्
'You have gathered here desiring to hear the Purāṇa; I shall recite for you the procedure that destroys all sin.'
सर्वज्ञानप्रदं देवं तत्वविज्ञानसंभवम् । शिवभक्तिप्रदं हृद्यं विष्णुभक्तिप्रदं शुभम्
'It bestows all knowledge, arises from the realization of truth, grants devotion to Śiva, is pleasing to the heart, bestows devotion to Viṣṇu, and is auspicious.'
विचित्रस्वगतिप्राप्ति ज्ञानदं रमणीप्रदम् । नानाविधशुभज्ञानं रतितंत्रप्रकाशकम्
'It grants attainment of various wonderful destinies, imparts knowledge, brings delight, reveals many kinds of auspicious wisdom, and illuminates the practices of enjoyment.'
भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रधानं च विधिदर्शनदीपकम् । विचित्रभक्तिकथनं भक्तिसाहसकीर्तनम्
'It chiefly bestows enjoyment and liberation, is a lamp showing the path of right conduct, narrates wondrous acts of devotion, and proclaims the heroism of devotees.'
व्रतप्रतिष्ठादानादि भस्मपूजाविधिप्रद्रम् । पुराणं पाद्ममुदितं ब्रह्मपद्मोपनिर्वृतम्
'It teaches the establishment of vows and their observance, the rite of worship with ashes, and is the Padma Purāṇa, composed by Brahmā and Padma.'
महेश्वरेण कथितं प्रमथाकृतिवर्णनम् । एतदन्यत्र कथितं पुराणे पाद्म एव तु
'It was spoken by Maheśvara, describing the forms of the Pramathas; though told elsewhere, it is found only in the Padma Purāṇa.'
दिलीपेनपुरापृष्टोवसिष्ठःप्रोक्तवानिदम् । तच्छृणुध्वं मुनिवरा ज्ञानं सर्वं भविष्यति
'Formerly, when asked by Dilīpa, Vasiṣṭha spoke this; listen, O best of sages, all knowledge will be yours.'
अथ तद्वचनाद्विप्राः पुराणश्रवणे रताः । कथं श्रोतव्यमधुना किं कृत्वेत्यब्रुवन्मुनिम्
Then, at those words, the brahmins, eager to hear the Purāṇa, asked the sage: 'How should it be listened to now? What should be done?'
सोऽपि सर्वं समाचष्ट शृणु धर्मं सनातनम् । नमस्कृत्य पुराणज्ञं दद्याच्चार्घासनं ततः
He explained everything: 'Hear the eternal dharma. After bowing to the knower of the Purāṇa, one should offer water for washing the feet and a seat.'
निषीद तत्र चेत्युक्त्वा गंधपुष्पैः समर्चयेत् । आत्मयोगं च तांबूलमधिकं वा समर्पयेत्
'Having said, "Sit here," one should worship with fragrant flowers, and offer betel or something better, according to one's ability.'
ब्रूहि पुण्यकथां ब्रह्मन्पौराणिकीमितीरयेत् । न खट्वासनमारुह्य नोच्चासनमथापि वा
'Say, "O brāhmaṇa, tell the sacred story from the Purāṇas." One should not listen while sitting on a cot or a high seat.'
नीचासनो वै शृणुयाद्धर्म्मकामार्थसिद्धये । शृण्वित्युक्त्वा पुराणज्ञ इमं मंत्रमुदीरयेत्
'One should listen while seated on a low seat, for the attainment of dharma, kāma, and artha. Having said, "Listen," the knower of the Purāṇa should recite this mantra.'
नमो हरिंहरमथो गणेशं भारतीमतः । इष्टदेवं नमस्कृत्वा पुराणं वक्तुमर्हति
Salutations to Hari, Hara, and Ganesha, and to the goddess of speech; having bowed to one's chosen deity, one is fit to recite the Purana.
अर्द्धयामं प्रतिदिनं यदि वापीच्छया भवेत् । एवं पाठसमाप्तिं च श्रुत्वा कृत्यं समाचरेत्
If, by one's own wish, one completes a half-yama of recitation each day, then, having heard the conclusion of the reading, one should perform the prescribed acts.