इदानीं ब्रूहि किं श्रोतुं महाभाग त्वमिच्छसि
Now, O highly fortunate one, tell me what you wish to hear.
श्रीविष्णवे नमः स्वच्छं चंद्रावदातं करिकरमकरक्षोभसंजातफेनं। ब्रह्मोद्भूतिप्रसक्तैर्व्रतनियमपरैः सेवितं विप्रमुख्यैः। कारालंकृतेन त्रिभुवनगुरुणा ब्रह्मणा दृष्टिपूतं। संभोगाभोगरम्यं जलमशुभहरं पौष्करं वः पुनातु
Salutation to Śrī Viṣṇu. May the pure water, white as the moon, foaming from the agitation of elephants and makaras, served by foremost Brāhmaṇas devoted to vows and discipline, sanctified by the gaze of Brahmā, the guru of the three worlds, adorned with beauty and delight, and remover of all inauspiciousness—may that Puṣkara water purify you.
सूतमेकांतमासीनं व्यासशिष्यं महामतिः। लोमहर्षणनामा वा उग्रश्रवसमाह तत्
The wise disciple of Vyāsa, named Lomaharṣaṇa or Ugraśravas, sat apart as the Sūta.
ऋषीणामाश्रमांस्तात गत्वा धर्मान्समासतः। पृच्छतां विस्तराद्ब्रूहि यन्मत्तः श्रुतवानसि
Having gone to the hermitages of the sages, O dear one, and having asked them about dharma in detail, speak fully of what you have heard from me.
वेदव्यासान्मया पुत्र पुराणान्यखिलानि च। तवाख्यातानि प्राप्तानि मुनिभ्यो वद विस्तरात्
O son, all the Purāṇas and the teachings of Vedavyāsa have been imparted to you; tell them in detail to the sages.
प्रयागे मुनिवर्यैश्च यथापृष्टः स्वयं प्रभुः। पृष्टेन चानुशिष्टास्ते मुनयो धर्मकांक्षिणः
At Prayāga, as the best of sages asked the Lord himself, and as they were instructed when they questioned, those sages, desiring dharma,
देशं पुण्यमभीप्संतो विभुना च हितैषिणा। सुनाभं दिव्यरूपं च सत्यगं शुभविक्रमं
seeking a holy land, were guided by the Lord, the well-wisher, to Sunābha, divine in form, truthful, and of auspicious valor.
अनौपम्यमिदं चक्रं वर्तमानमतंद्रिताः। पृष्टतो यातनियमात्पदं प्राप्स्यथ यद्धितम्
He said: This matchless wheel, which moves tirelessly, you should follow without distraction; by doing so, you will attain the good that is sought.
गच्छतो धर्मचक्रस्य यत्र नेमिर्विशीर्यते। पुण्यः स देशो मंतव्य इत्युवाच स्वयं प्रभुः
Wherever the rim of the wheel of dharma, as it moves, does not break, that place should be considered holy—so spoke the Lord himself.
उक्त्वा चैवमृषीन्सर्वानदृश्यत्वमगात्पुनः। गंगावर्तसमाहारो नेमिर्यत्र व्यशीर्यत
Having thus spoken to all the sages, he became invisible again; the rim broke where the Ganges’ currents gathered.
ईजिरे दीर्घसत्रेण ऋषयो नैमिषे तदा। तत्र गत्वा तु तान्ब्रूहि पृच्छतो धर्मसंशयान्
Then, at Naimiṣa, the sages performed a long sacrifice; go there and speak to them, answering their questions about dharma.
उग्रश्रवास्ततो गत्वा ज्ञानविन्मुनिपुंगवान्। अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य नमस्कृत्वा कृतांजलिः
Then Ugraśravas went to those wise and eminent sages; approaching them, he greeted them with joined palms.
तोषयामास मेधावी प्रणिपातेन तानृषीन्। ते चापि सत्रिणः प्रीताः ससदस्या महात्मने
The intelligent one pleased those sages with his respectful salutation; and those sacrificers, along with their assembly, were pleased with the great-souled one.
तस्मै समेत्य पूजां च यथावत्प्रतिपेदिरे। ऋषय ऊचुः। कुतस्त्वमागतः सूत कस्माद्देशादिहागतः
Coming together, they honored him as was proper; the sages said: From where have you come, O Sūta? From what land have you arrived here?
कारणं चागमे ब्रूहि वृंदारकसमद्युते। सूत उवाच। पित्राहं तु समादिष्टो व्यासशिष्येण धीमता
O radiant one among the attendants, tell us the reason according to tradition. The Sūta said: I was instructed by my father, the wise disciple of Vyāsa.
शुश्रूषस्व मुनीन्गत्वा यत्ते पृच्छंति तद्वद। वदंतु भगवंतो मां कथयामि कथां तु यां
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.
पुराणं चेतिहासं वा धर्मानथ पृथग्विधान्। तां गिरं मधुरां तस्य शुश्रुवुर्ऋषिसत्तमाः
Whether it is ancient legend or history, or various kinds of dharma, the best of the sages listened to his sweet words.
अथ तेषां पुराणस्य शुश्रूषा समपद्यत। दृष्ट्वा तमतिविश्वस्तं विद्वांसं लौमहर्षणिं
Then, among them, the desire to hear the Purāṇa arose, seeing Laumaharṣaṇa, the learned one, so completely trustworthy.
तस्मिन्सत्रे कुलपतिस्सर्वशास्त्राविशारदः। शौनको नाम मेधावी विज्ञानारण्यके गुरुः
In that assembly, the head of the family, thoroughly learned in all the scriptures, named Śaunaka, wise and the teacher in the forest of knowledge, was present.
इत्थं तद्भावमालंब्य धर्माञ्छुश्रूषुराह तम्। त्वया सूत महाबुद्धे भगवान्ब्रह्मवित्तमः
Thus, relying on that disposition, the seeker of dharma addressed him: 'O Sūta, of great intellect, you are the foremost knower of Brahman.'
इतिहासपुराणार्थं व्यासः सम्यगुपासितः। दुदोहिथमतिं तस्य त्वं पुराणाश्रयां शुभां
Vyāsa, having been properly served, drew forth from you the pure mind devoted to the Purāṇas, for the sake of understanding the meaning of history and ancient lore.
अमीषां विप्रमुख्यानां पुराणं प्रति सम्प्रति। शुश्रूषाऽस्ते महाबुद्धे तछ्रावयितुमर्हसि
O wise one, among these foremost Brāhmaṇas, there is now a desire to hear the Purāṇa; you should recite it to them.
सर्वे हीमे महात्मानो नानागोत्राः समागताः। स्वान्स्वानंशान्पुराणोक्ताञ्छृण्वन्तु ब्रह्मवादिनः
All these great souls, assembled from various lineages, are expounders of Brahman; let them hear the portions of the Purāṇa relevant to each.
संपूर्णे दीर्घसत्रेस्मिंस्तांस्त्वं श्रावय वै मुनीन्। पाद्मं पुराणं सर्वेषां कथयस्व महामते
In this long and complete sacrificial session, you must narrate to the sages the Padma Purāṇa in its entirety, O greatly wise one.
कथं पद्मं समुद्भूतं ब्रह्म तत्र कथं न्वभूत्। प्रोद्भूतेन कथं सृष्टिः कृता तां तु तथा वद
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.
एवं पृष्टस्ततस्तांस्तु प्रत्युवाच शुभां गिरम्। सूक्ष्मं च न्यायसंयुक्तं प्राब्रवीद्रौमहर्षणिः
Thus questioned, he replied to them with auspicious words; Laumaharṣaṇa spoke concisely and in accordance with reason.
प्रीतोस्म्यनुगृहीतोस्मि भवद्भिरिह चोदनात्। पुराणार्थं पुराणज्ञैः सर्वधर्मपरायणैः
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.
यथाश्रुतं सुविख्यातं तत्सर्वं कथयामि वः। धर्म एष तु सूतस्य सद्भिर्दृष्टः सनातनः
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.
देवतानामृषीणां च राज्ञां चामिततेजसाम्। वंशानां धारणं कार्यं स्तुतीनां च महात्मनाम्
The preservation of the lineages of the gods, sages, and kings of immeasurable splendor, and the praises of the great souls, must be undertaken.
इतिहासपुराणेषु दृष्टा ये ब्रह्मवादिनः। न हि वेदेष्वधीकारः कश्चित्सूतस्य दृश्यते
Those who are expounders of Brahman are seen in the histories and Purāṇas; for no Sūta is seen to have authority in the Vedas.