भरतस्याश्रमे श्राद्धान्नयेद्ब्रह्मालयं पितॄन्। मतङ्गस्य पदे श्राद्धी ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन् ।। ५०.
By offering śrāddha at the hermitage of Bharata, one leads the ancestors to the abode of Brahma; by performing śrāddha at the place of Matanga, one leads the ancestors to the world of Brahma.
निर्म्मथ्याग्निं शमीगर्भे विधिर्विष्ण्वादिभिः सह। लेभे तीर्थन्तु यज्ञार्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् ।। ५०.
Having churned fire within the Sami tree, the rite was performed together with Vishnu and others; that tirtha, renowned in the three worlds, was obtained for the sake of sacrifice.
मखसंज्ञन्तु तत्तीर्थं पितॄणां मुक्ति दायकम्। स्नात्वा च तर्पणं कृत्वा पिण्डदो मुक्तिमाप्नुयात् ।। ५०.
That tirtha, called Makha, grants liberation to the ancestors; by bathing and offering libations and pinda there, the giver of pinda attains liberation.
पितॄन्स्वर्गं नयेन्नत्वा सङ्गमेऽङ्गारकेश्वरौ। गयाकूटे पिण्डदानादश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।। ५०.
By bowing at the confluence to Angaraka and Ishvara, one leads the ancestors to heaven; by offering pinda at the summit of Gaya, one obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.
भस्मकूटे भस्मनाथं नत्वा च तारयेत्पितॄन् । त्यक्तपापो भवेन्मुक्तः सङ्गमे स्नानमाचरेत् ।। ५०.
By bowing to Bhasmanatha at Bhasmakuta, one saves the ancestors; becoming free from sin and liberated, one should bathe at the confluence.
इष्टिं चक्रेऽश्वमेधाख्यं वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः। इष्टितो निर्गतः शम्भुर्वरं वृणु वसिष्ठकम् ।। ५०.
The eminent sage Vasishtha performed a sacrifice called Ashvamedha; from that sacrifice, Shambhu appeared and said, 'Choose a boon, O Vasishtha.'
प्राहेति तं वसिष्ठोऽपि शिव तुष्ठोऽसि मे यदि। वस्तव्यं चात्र देवेश तथेत्युक्त्वा शिवः स्थितः ।। ५०.
Vasishtha replied, 'If you are pleased with me, O Lord of the gods, then you must reside here.' Shiva, saying 'So be it,' remained there.
पिण्डदो धेनुकारण्ये कामधेनुपदेषु च। स्नात्वा नत्वाथ सम्पूज्य ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन् ।। ५०.
By giving pinda in the Dhenuka forest and at the places of Kamadhenu, after bathing, bowing, and duly worshipping, one leads the ancestors to the world of Brahma.
कर्द्दमाले गयानाभौ मुण्डपृष्ठसमीपतः। स्नात्वा श्राद्धादिकं कृत्वा पितॄणामनृणो भवेत् ।। ५०.
At Kardama Lake, at the navel of Gaya, and near Mundapristha, by bathing and performing śrāddha and related rites, one becomes free from debt to the ancestors.
फल्गुचण्डीश्मशानाक्षीमङ्गलाद्याः समर्च्चयेत्। गयायाञ्च वृषोत्सर्गात्रिः सप्तकुलमुद्धरेत् ।। ५०.
One should worship Phalgu, Chandi, Smashana, Akshi, Mangala, and others; and by releasing a bull at Gaya, one uplifts seven generations of one's family.
यत्र तत्र स्थिता देवा ऋषयोऽपि जितेन्द्रियाः । आद्यं गदाधरं ध्यायञ्छ्राद्धपिण्डादिदानतः ।। ५०.
Wherever the gods and the self-restrained sages reside, by meditating on the primordial wielder of the mace and by giving śrāddha and pinda, one attains merit.
कुलानां शतमुद्धृत्य ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत् पितॄन्। गया गयो गया दित्यो गायत्री च गदाधरः ।। ५०.
By uplifting a hundred families, one leads the ancestors to the world of Brahma; Gaya, Gaya, Gayaditya, Gayatri, and the wielder of the mace are all mentioned.
गया गयासुरश्चैव षङ्गया मुक्तिदायकाः। गयाख्यानमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत्सततं नरः ।। ५०.
Gaya, Gayasura, and the six Gayas are givers of liberation; whoever continually recites this sacred account of Gaya, O man—
श्रृणुयाच्छ्रद्धया यस्तु स याति परमां गतिम्। पाठयेद्वा गयाख्यानं विप्रेभ्यः पुण्यकृन्नरः ।। ५०.
Whoever listens to it with faith attains the highest state; or whoever recites the account of Gaya to the Brahmins, that meritorious man—
गयाश्राद्धं कृतं तेन कृतं तेन सुनिश्चितम्। गयाया महिमानञ्च ह्यभ्यसेद्यः समाहितः ।। ५०.
For him, the Gaya śrāddha is considered as performed, certainly performed; and whoever studies the greatness of Gaya with concentration—
तेनेष्टं राजसूयेन अश्वमेधेन नारद। लिखेद्वा लेखयेद्वापि पूजयेद्वापि पुस्तकम् ।। ५०.
For him, it is as if he has performed the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices, O Narada; or if he writes or has written, or worships this book.
तस्य गेहे स्थिरा लक्ष्मीः सुप्रसन्ना भविष्यति। उपाख्यानमिदं पुण्यं गृहे तिष्ठति पुस्तकम् ।। ५०.
In his house, enduring fortune, most auspicious, will abide; if this sacred tale is kept as a book in the home.
सर्पाग्निचौरजनितं भयं तत्र न विद्यते। श्राद्धकाले पठेद्यस्तु गयामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ।। ५०.
There, no fear arises from snakes, fire, or thieves; whoever recites this supreme glory of Gayā at the time of ancestral rites—
विधिहीनन्तु तत्सर्वं पितॄणान्तु गयासमम्। यानि तीर्थानि त्रैलोक्ये तानि दृष्टानि तत्र वै। येन ज्ञातं गयाख्यानं श्रुतं वा पठितं मुने ।। ५०.
Even if performed without proper rites, all offerings to the ancestors there are equal to those at Gayā; all the holy places in the three worlds are seen there, by one who knows, hears, or recites the story of Gayā, O sage.
सनत्कुमारो मुनिपुङ्गवाय पुण्यां कथाञ्चाथ निवेद्य भक्त्या। स्वमाश्रमं पुण्यवनैरुपेतं विसृज्य संगीतगुरुं जगाम ।। ५०.
Sanatkumāra, having devotedly conveyed this sacred story to the foremost sage, departed for his own hermitage, surrounded by blessed groves, after taking leave of his revered teacher.
श्रीगणेशाय नमः ।। नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरञ्चैव नरोत्तमम्। देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत्।। जयति पराशरसूनुः सत्यवतीहृदयनन्दनो व्यासः। यस्यास्यकमलगलितं वाङ्मयममृतं जगत् पिबति।। प्रपद्ये देवमीशानं शाश्वतं ध्रुवमव्ययम्। महादेवं महात्मानं सर्वस्य जगतः पतिम्
Salutations to Śrī Gaṇeśa. Having bowed to Nārāyaṇa, to Nara the supreme man, and to the goddess Sarasvatī, then let victory be proclaimed. Victorious is Vyāsa, son of Parāśara, delight of Satyavatī’s heart, from whose lotus mouth the nectar of speech flows, which the world drinks. I seek refuge in the god Īśāna, eternal, steadfast, imperishable, the great lord, the great soul, the master of all the worlds.
ब्रह्माणं लोककर्त्तारं सर्वज्ञमपराजितम्। प्रभुं भूतभविष्यस्य साम्प्रतस्य च सत्पतिम्
To Brahmā, creator of the worlds, all-knowing, unconquered, lord of past, future, and present, the true master—
ज्ञानमप्रतिमं यस्य वैराग्यं च जगत्पतेः। ऐश्वर्यञ्चैव धर्मश्च सहसिद्धिचतुष्टयः
Whose knowledge is without equal, whose detachment is supreme, lord of the world, whose sovereignty, righteousness, and the fourfold perfections are complete—
य इमान् पश्यते भावान्नित्यं सदसदात्मकान्। आविशन्ति पुनस्तं वै क्रियाभावार्थमीश्वरम्
He who always perceives these realities, both existent and non-existent; all beings enter him again, for the sake of action, that lord.
लोककृल्लोकतत्त्वज्ञो योगमास्थाय तत्त्ववित्। असृजत् सर्वभूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च
The creator of the worlds, knower of their true nature, established in yoga and wisdom, created all beings, both immobile and mobile.
तमजं विश्वकर्माणं चित्पतिं लोकसाक्षिणम्। पुराणाख्यानजिज्ञासुर्व्रजामि शरणं प्रभुम्
To that unborn, all-creating lord, master of consciousness, witness of the worlds, desiring to know the ancient tales, I go for refuge.
ब्रह्मवायुमहेन्द्रेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य समाहितः। ऋषीणाञ्च वरिष्ठाय वसिष्ठाय महात्मने
Having bowed with concentration to Brahmā, Vāyu, and Indra, and to the most eminent of sages, the great-souled Vasiṣṭha—
तन्नप्त्त्रे चातियशसे जातूकर्णाय चर्षये। वसिष्ठाय च शुचये कृष्णद्वैपायनाय च
And to his most renowned grandson, the sage Jātūkarṇa, to the pure Vasiṣṭha, and to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana as well—
पुराणं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि ब्रह्मोक्तं वेदसम्मितम्। धर्मार्थन्यायसंयुक्तैरागमैः सुविभूषितम्
I shall now declare the Purāṇa, spoken by Brahmā, in accord with the Veda, adorned with doctrines of righteousness, prosperity, and justice.
असीमकृष्णे विक्रान्ते राजन्येऽनुपमत्विषि। प्रशासतीमां धर्मेण भूमिं भूमिपसत्तमे
When Asīmakṛṣṇa, unrivaled in valor among kings, ruled this earth with righteousness, foremost among rulers—