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.
इयं ब्रसी मया क्लप्ता आस्यतां सुखदा कृता। अर्घ्यपात्रे तु पालाशे दूर्वाक्षतसुमैः कुशैः
This ladle has been prepared by me; let it be placed, as it brings comfort. In the vessel for offering, made of palāśa wood, are durvā grass, rice grains, flowers, and kuśa grass.
सर्षपैश्च दधिक्षौद्रैर्यवैश्च पयसा सह। अष्टांगो ह्येष निर्द्दिष्टो ह्यर्घो हि मुनिभिः पुरा
With mustard seeds, curd, honey, barley, and milk together, this eightfold offering is prescribed, as established by the sages of old.
श्रुत्वैतद्वचनं तस्य भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः। उपविष्टो ब्रह्मसुतः पुलस्त्यो भगवानृषिः
Hearing these words of Bhīṣma, whose energy is immeasurable, the divine sage Pulastya, son of Brahma, sat down.
विष्टरं सहपाद्येन अर्घपात्रं मुदान्वितः। जुजोष भगवान्प्रीतः सदाचारेण तेन तु
With a seat and water for washing the feet, and the vessel for offering, filled with joy, the blessed one, pleased, accepted it with proper conduct.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। सत्यवान्दानशीलोसि सत्यसंधिर्नरेश्वरः। ह्रीमान्मैत्रः क्षमाशीलो विक्रांतः शत्रुशासने
Pulastya said: You are truthful, generous, steadfast in your word, O king; modest, friendly, patient, valiant in subduing enemies.
धर्मज्ञस्त्वं कृतज्ञस्त्वं दयावान्प्रियभाषिता। मान्यमानयिता विज्ञो ब्रह्मण्यः साधुवत्सलः
You know righteousness, you are grateful, compassionate, and speak kindly; you honor the honorable, are wise, devoted to Brahmins, and cherish the virtuous.
तुष्टस्तेहं सदा वत्स प्रणिपातपरस्य वै। प्रब्रूहि त्वं महाभाग कथनं ते वदाम्यहम्
I am always pleased with you, child, who are devoted to reverence; tell me, O fortunate one, what you wish to ask, and I shall speak.
भीष्म उवाच। भगवन्भगवान्ब्रह्मा कस्मिन्काले स्थितो विभुः। सृष्टिं चकार वै पूर्वं देवादीनां वदस्व मे
Bhīṣma said: O revered one, O blessed Brahma, at what time did the mighty one exist? Tell me how he first created the gods and others.
स्थितिं वा भगवान्विष्णुः कथं रुद्रस्तु निर्मितः। कथं वा ऋषयो देवास्सृष्टास्तेन महात्मना
Or how did the blessed Viṣṇu sustain, and how was Rudra created? How were the sages and gods brought forth by that great soul?
कथं पृथ्वी कथं व्योम कथं चेमे तु सागराः। कथं द्वीपाः पर्वताश्च ग्रामारण्यपुराणि च
How was the earth, how was the sky, and how were these oceans? How were the islands, mountains, villages, forests, and cities?