कूर्ममाहात्म्यं तत्प्रोक्तं वाराहस्य तथैव च । माहात्म्यं च गवादीनां दानानां प्रवदाम्यहम्
The greatness of Kūrma has been spoken, and likewise that of Varāha; I shall declare the greatness of giving cows and other gifts.
प्रह्लादमुखभक्ता ये ये केचिद्भुवि विश्रुताः । तन्माहात्म्यं ततो वक्ष्ये शृणु देवर्षिसत्तम
Those devotees beginning with Prahlāda, and all others renowned on earth—I shall then speak of their greatness; listen, O best of divine sages.
जागरे महिमा चैव दीपदाने कृते च यत् । प्रहरेषु पृथक्पूजाफलं देवर्षिसत्तम
O best of the divine sages, the merit gained from keeping vigil, from offering lamps, and from performing separate worship in each watch of the night—
पर्शुरामस्य चाख्यानं रेणुकाया वधस्तथा । ब्राह्मणानां भूमिदानं रामेणैव च यत्कृतम्
The account of Parashurama, the slaying of Renuka, and the land gifts made by Rama to the Brahmins—
रामस्याश्रमजं पुण्यं वदाम्यहमशेषतः । नर्मदायास्तथाख्यानं पुण्यपूजनयोस्तथा
I shall fully recount the sacred deeds performed by Rama in his hermitage, as well as the story of the Narmada and the merits of its worship.
दानं वेदपुराणानामाश्रमाणां निरूपणम् । हिरण्यदानपुण्यं च ब्रह्मांडदानमेव च
The giving of the Vedas and Puranas, the description of hermitages, the merit of giving gold, and the gift of the cosmic egg—
पद्मपुराणदानं च खंडानां व्यक्तयस्तथा । प्रथमं सृष्टिखंडं च द्वितीयं भूमिखंडकम्
The donation of the Padma Purana, the enumeration of its sections, the first being the Srishti-khanda, and the second, the Bhumi-khanda—
स्वर्गखंडं तृतीयं च तुर्यं पातालसंज्ञकम् । उत्तरं पंचमं प्रोक्तं खंडान्यनुक्रमेण वै
The third is the Svarga-khanda, the fourth is called Patala, and the fifth, the Uttara-khanda; thus, the sections are described in order.
एतत्पद्मपुराणं तु व्यासेन तु महात्मना । कृतं लोकहितार्थाय ब्राह्मणश्रेयसे तथा
This Padma Purana was composed by the great Vyasa for the welfare of the world and for the benefit of Brahmins.
शूद्राणां पुण्यजननं तीव्रदारिद्र्यनाशनम् । मोक्षदं सुखदं चाशु कल्याणप्रदमव्ययम् । श्रुत्वा दानं तथा कुर्याद्विधिना तत्र नारद
It generates merit for Shudras, destroys intense poverty, grants liberation and happiness quickly, and bestows unfailing auspiciousness; having heard it, one should give gifts there according to the prescribed rule, O Narada.
महेश उवाच- एकलक्षं पंचविंशत्सहस्रा पर्वतास्तथा । तेषां मध्ये महत्पुण्यं बद्रिकाश्रममुत्तमम्
Mahesha said: There are one hundred twenty-five thousand mountains, and among them, the most sacred and excellent is the hermitage of Badrika.
नरनारायणो देवो यत्र तिष्ठति नारद । तस्य स्वरूपं तेजश्च वक्ष्यामीह च सांप्रतम्
O Narada, it is there that the divine Nara and Narayana reside; I shall now describe their form and brilliance to you.
हिमपर्वतशृंगे च कृष्णाकारतया द्विज । द्वौ पुरुषौ तत्र वर्तेते नरनारायणावुभौ
On the peak of the snowy mountain, in the form of Krishna, two men dwell there—both Nara and Narayana.
श्वेत एकस्तु पुरुषः कृष्णो ह्येकतमः पुनः । तेन मार्गेण ये यांति हिमाचलकृतोद्यमाः
One of them is white, and the other is dark; those who travel that path, striving to reach the Himalayas—
पिंगलश्वेतवर्णश्च जटाधारी महाप्रभुः । कृष्णो नारायणो ह्येष जगदादिर्महाप्रभुः
One is tawny-white in color, bearing matted hair, a great lord; the other is Krishna, Narayana, the primeval lord of the universe.
चतुर्बाहुर्महान्श्रीमान्व्यक्तोऽव्यक्तः सनातनः । उत्तरायणे महापूजा जायते तत्र सुव्रत
He is four-armed, great, splendid, manifest and unmanifest, eternal; during the northern solstice, a great worship is performed there, O virtuous one.
षण्मासादिकपर्यंतं पूजा नैव च जायते । हिमव्याप्तं तदा जातं यावद्वै दक्षिणं भवेत्
For six months, until the end of the period, worship does not take place; at that time, it is covered with snow, until the southern course begins.
अत एतादृशो देवो न भूतो न भविष्यति । तत्र देवा वसंतीह ऋषीणां चाश्रमास्तथा
Such a deity has never existed before, nor will exist in the future; there, the gods dwell, as well as the hermitages of the sages.
अग्निहोत्राणि वेदाश्च ध्वनिः प्रश्रूयते सदा । तस्य वै दर्शनं कार्यं कोटिहत्याविनाशनम्
There, sacrificial fires and the Vedas are always heard resounding; seeing him destroys the sin of killing millions.
अलकनंदा यत्र गंगा तत्र स्नानं समाचरेत् । कृत्वा स्नानं तु वै तत्र महापापात्प्रमुच्यते
Where the Alakananda, the Ganga, flows, one should bathe there; after bathing at that place, one is freed from great sin.
यत्र विश्वेश्वरो देवस्तिष्ठत्येव न संशयः । एकस्मिन्नवसरे ब्रह्मन्सुतपस्तप्तवानहम्
Where the Lord of all, the god, truly abides—there is no doubt; at one time, O Brahman, I performed austerities.
तदा नारायणो देवो भक्तानां हि कृपाकरः । अव्ययः पुरुषः साक्षादीश्वरो गरुडध्वजः । सुप्रसन्नोऽब्रवीन्मां वै वरं वरय सुव्रत
Then Nārāyaṇa, the god, compassionate to devotees, the imperishable Person, manifest Lord, bearer of the Garuḍa banner, was well-pleased and spoke to me: 'Choose a boon, O steadfast one.'
श्रीनारायण उवाच-। यद्यदीप्ससि देव त्वं तं तं कामं ददाम्यहम् । त्वं कैलासविभुः साक्षाद्रुद्रो वै विश्वपालकः
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: 'Whatever you desire, O god, that wish I grant you. You are the lord of Kailāsa, manifest Rudra, protector of the universe.'
रुद्र उवाच-। अलं गृह्णामि भो देव सुप्रसन्नो जनार्दन । द्वौ वरौ मम दीयेतां यदि दातुं त्वमिच्छसि
Rudra said: 'Enough, O god, I accept, O gracious Janārdana. Let two boons be granted to me, if you wish to give.'
तव भक्तिः सदैवास्तु भक्तराजो भवाम्यहम् । सर्वे लोका ब्रुवंत्वेवमयं भक्तः सदैव हि
May your devotion always be mine; may I become the foremost of your devotees. Let all worlds declare thus: 'He is ever a devotee.'
तव प्रसादाद्देवेश मुक्तिदाता भवाम्यहम् । ये लोका मां भजिष्यंति तेषां दाता न संशयः
By your grace, O Lord of gods, may I become the giver of liberation. Those worlds that worship me—I shall be their giver, without doubt.
विष्णुभक्त इति ख्यातो लोके चैव भवाम्यहम् । यस्याहं वरदाता तु तस्य मुक्तिर्भवेत्प्रभो
I shall be known in the world as a devotee of Viṣṇu; for whom I am the giver of boons, for him, O Lord, liberation shall be attained.
जटिलो भस्मलिप्तांगो ह्यहं वै तव संनिधौ । तव चरणप्रसादेन लोके ख्यातो भवाम्यहम्
With matted hair and body smeared with ashes, I shall be in your presence; by the grace of your feet, I shall be renowned in the world.
सूत उवाच- एकदा नारदो द्रष्टुं पांडवान्दुःखकर्शितान् । ययौ काम्यवनं विप्रः सत्कृतस्तैर्यथाविधि
Sūta said: Once, Nārada went to see the Pāṇḍavas, afflicted by sorrow; he went to Kāmyavana, O Brahman, and was duly honored by them.
अथ नत्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठं युधिष्ठिर उवाच ह । भगवन्कर्मणा केन दुःखाब्धौ पतिता वयम्
Then, after bowing to the best of sages, Yudhiṣṭhira spoke: 'O Lord, by what action have we fallen into this ocean of sorrow?'