देवेन विप्रा विप्राणां विश्वामित्रहितैषिणा। एकं वेदं चतुःपादं चतुर्धा पुनरीश्वरः
By the god, desiring the welfare of the Brāhmaṇas and of Viśvāmitra, the one four-footed Veda was divided into four parts again by the Lord.
यथा बिभेद भगवान् व्यासः सर्वेष्वनुग्रहात्। तस्य शिष्यप्रशिष्यैश्च शाखाभेदाः पुनः कृताः
How the venerable Vyāsa divided it for the benefit of all, and how his disciples and their disciples again made further divisions into branches—
प्रयागे मुनिवर्यैश्च यथा पृष्टः स्वयं प्रभुः। कृष्णेन चानुशिष्टास्ते मुनयो धर्मकांक्षिणः
How, at Prayāga, the Lord himself was questioned by the eminent sages, and how those sages, desiring righteousness, were instructed by Kṛṣṇa—
एतत्सर्वं यथातत्वमाख्यातं द्विजसत्तमाः। मुनीनां धर्मनित्यानां लोकतंत्रमनुत्तमम्
All this has been narrated in its true nature, O best of twice-born, the supreme tradition of the world for sages devoted to righteousness.
ब्रह्मणा यत्पुरा प्रोक्तं पुलस्त्याय महात्मने। पुलस्त्येनाथ भीष्माय गंगाद्वारे प्रभाषितम्
What was formerly spoken by Brahmā to the great-souled Pulastya, and then by Pulastya to Bhīṣma at Gaṅgādvāra—
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्व्वपापप्रणाशनम्। कीर्तनं श्रवणं चास्य धारणं च विशेषतः
Its recitation, hearing, and especially retention are blessed, bring fame, prolong life, and destroy all sins.
सूतेनानुक्रमेणेदं पुराणं संप्रकाशितम्। ब्राह्मणेषु पुरा यच्च ब्रह्मणोक्तं सविस्तरम्
This Purāṇa was revealed in sequence by Sūta, and what was formerly spoken in detail by Brahmā among the Brāhmaṇas.
पादमस्य विदन्सम्यग्योधीयीत जितेंद्रियः। तेनाधीतं पुराणं स्यात्सर्वं नास्त्यत्र संशयः५० 1.2.
He who knows a quarter of it well and studies it with controlled senses—he is considered to have studied the entire Purāṇa; of this there is no doubt.
यो विद्याच्चतुरो वेदान्सांगोपनिषदो द्विजः। पुराणं च विजानाति यः स तस्माद्विचक्षणः
That twice-born who knows the four Vedas with their limbs and Upaniṣads, and also understands the Purāṇa—he is truly wise.
इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां वेदं समुपबृंहयेत्। बिभेत्यल्पश्रुताद्वेदो मामयं प्रतरिष्यति
One should supplement the Veda with Itihāsa and Purāṇa; the Veda fears one of little learning, thinking, 'He will distort me.'
अधीत्य चैकमध्यायं स्वयं प्रोक्तं स्वयंभुवा। आपदः प्राप्य मुच्येत यथेष्टां प्राप्नुयाद्गतिम्
By studying even a single chapter, as spoken by the self-born, one is freed from calamities and attains the desired state.
पुरा परंपरां वक्ति पुराणं तेन वै स्मृतम्। निरुक्तिमस्य यो वेद सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Because it speaks of ancient tradition, it is therefore called Purāṇa; whoever knows its etymology is freed from all sins.
ऋषयोह्यब्रुवन्सूतं कथं भीष्मेण सङ्गतः। ब्रह्मणो मानसः पुत्रः पुलस्त्यो भगवानृषिः
The sages said to Sūta: How did the venerable sage Pulastya, the mind-born son of Brahmā, come together with Bhīṣma?
दुर्लभं दर्शनं यस्य नरैः पापसमन्वितैः। अत्याश्चर्यमिदं सूत क्षत्रियेण कथं मुनिः
O Sūta, the sight of him is rare for men tainted by sin; this is most astonishing—how did the sage meet with a kṣatriya?
आराधितो बृहद्भूतस्तन्नो वद महामते। कीदृशं वा तपस्तेन को वान्यो नियमः कृतः
Tell us, O wise one, by what great austerity was he propitiated? What kind of discipline did he undertake, or what other observance was performed?
येन तुष्टो मुनिर्ब्राह्मस्तथा तेन प्रभाषितः। पर्वं वाप्यथ पर्वार्धं समग्रं वा प्रभाषितम्
By which the brāhmaṇa sage was pleased and thus spoke—did he reveal a portion, a half, or the entirety of the festival?
यस्मिन्स्थाने यथादृष्टः पुलस्त्यो भगवानृषिः। तन्नो वद महाभाग कल्याः स्म श्रवणे वयम्
In what place and in what manner was the venerable sage Pulastya seen? Tell us that, O highly fortunate one; we are eager to hear.
सूत उवाच। यत्र गंगा महाभागा साधूनां हितकारिणी। विभिद्य पर्वतं वेगान्निःसृता लोकपावनी
Sūta said: Where the blessed Gaṅgā, benefactor of the virtuous, burst forth from the mountain with force, purifying the worlds—
गंगाद्वारे महातीर्थे भीष्मः पितृपरायणः। शुश्रूषुः सुचिरं कालं महतां नियमे स्थितः
At Gaṅgādvāra, the great pilgrimage site, Bhīṣma, devoted to his ancestors, remained for a long time, steadfast in the discipline of the great.
यावद्वर्षशतं साग्रं परमेण समाधिना। ध्यायमानः परं ब्रह्म त्रिकालं स्नानमाचरत्
For more than a hundred years, with supreme concentration, he meditated on the Supreme Brahman and performed the threefold daily bath.
पितॄन्देवांस्तर्पयतः स्वाध्यायेन महात्मनः। आत्मानं कर्षतश्चास्य तुष्टो देवः पितामहः
As the great-souled one satisfied the ancestors and gods through self-study, and disciplined himself, the god Pitāmaha was pleased with him.
उवाच तनयं ब्रह्मा पुलस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्। स त्वं देवव्रतं भीष्मं वीरं कुरुकुलोद्भवम्
Brahmā spoke to his son, the eminent sage Pulastya: You must go to Bhīṣma, son of the Kuru line, devoted to vows and a hero.
तपसः संनिवर्त्तस्व कारणं चास्य कीर्त्तय। पितॄन्भक्त्या महाभागो ध्यायमानस्समास्थितः
Withdraw him from his austerities and declare to him the reason; this highly fortunate one is absorbed in meditation, devoted to his ancestors.
यो ह्यस्य मनसः कामस्तं संपादयमाचिरम्। पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा पुलस्त्यो मुनिसत्तमः
Whatever desire is in his mind, fulfill it promptly; hearing the words of Pitāmaha, the eminent sage Pulastya—
गंगाद्वारमथागत्य भीष्मं वचनमब्रवीत्। वरं वरय भद्रं ते यत्ते मनसि वर्त्तते
Then, coming to Gaṅgādvāra, Pulastya spoke to Bhīṣma: Choose a boon, O blessed one, whatever is in your heart.
तुष्टस्ते तपसा वीर साक्षाद्देवः पितामहः। ब्रह्मणा प्रेषितस्तेहं वरान्दास्यामि कांक्षितान्
O hero, the god Pitāmaha is pleased with your austerity; sent by Brahmā, I am here to grant you the boons you desire.
भीष्मोपि तद्वचः श्रुत्वा मनःश्रोत्रसुखावहम्। उन्मील्य नयने दृष्ट्वा पुलस्त्यं पुरतः स्थितम्
Hearing those pleasing words, Bhīṣma opened his eyes and saw Pulastya standing before him.
अष्टांगप्रणिपातेन नत्वा तं मुनिसत्तमम्। उवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा सर्वांगालिंगितावनिः
With eightfold prostration, bowing to that eminent sage, he spoke, having bowed down, embracing the earth with all his limbs.
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म दिनं चेदं सुशोभनम्। भवतश्चरणौ दृष्टौ जगद्वंद्यौ मया त्विह
Today my birth is fulfilled, and this day is most auspicious; I have seen your feet here, worthy of worship by the world.
तपसश्च फलं प्राप्तं यद्दृष्टोभगवान्मया। वरप्रदो विशेषेण संप्राप्तश्च नदीतटे
The fruit of my austerity is attained, for I have seen the venerable one; the bestower of boons has especially come to the riverbank.