pari-kulkarni/itihasa-sanskrit-en-filtered huggingface dataset:
Sanskrit: वेदान् यज्ञांश्च शतशः पश्यामृतमथौषधीः। तपांसि नियमांश्चैव यमानपि पृथग्विधान्॥
English: See also the Vedas, all the Sacrifices numbering by hundreds, the Amrita (nectar), and all the (medicinal) herbs and plants, and Penances, and vows and observances of various sorts.
Sanskrit: तथाष्टगुणमैश्वर्यमेकस्थं पश्य मूर्तिमत्। श्रियं लक्ष्मी च कीर्तिं च पृथिवीं च ककुदिनीम्॥
English: See also in me the eight attributes of power, viz., those particularly called the Lordly powers, living all together in my body in their united and embodied form. See also Shree and Lakshmi, and Kirti, and the Earth with her hump.
Sanskrit: वेदानां मातरं पश्य मत्स्थां देवीं सरस्वतीम्। ध्रुवं च ज्योतिषां श्रेष्ठ पश्य नारद खेचरम्॥
English: See the goddess Sarasvati, that mother of the Vedas, living in me! See, O Narada, Dhruva, that foremost of luminaries ranging in the sky.
Sanskrit: अम्भोधरान् समुद्रांश्च सरांसि सरितस्तथा। मूर्तिमन्तः पितृगणांश्चतुरः पश्य सत्तम॥ त्रींश्चैवेमान् गुणान् पश्य मत्स्थान् मूर्तिविवर्जितान्।
English: See also all the Oceans, those receptacles of water, and lakes, and rivers. See, also, O best of men, the four foremost ones amongst the Pitris in their embodied forms. See also, living in me, the three qualities (of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas) which are formless.
Sanskrit: देवकार्यादपि मुने पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते॥ देवानां च पितॄणां च पिता ह्येकोऽहमादितः।
English: The acts done in honour of the departed mane are superior to those done in honour of the gods. I am the Pitri of the both the gods and the Pitris, and am existing from the beginning.
Sanskrit: अहं हयशिरा भूत्वा समुद्रे पश्चिमोत्तरे॥ पिबामि सुहुतं हव्यं कव्यं च श्रद्धयान्वितम्।
English: Becoming the Equine-head I pass through the Western and the Northern ocean and drink sacrificial libations duly poured with Mantras and solid sacrificial food offered with respect and devotion.
Sanskrit: मया सृष्टः पुरा ब्रह्मा मां यज्ञमयजत् स्वयम्॥ ततस्तस्मिन् वरान् प्रीतो दत्त्वानसम्यनुत्तमान्।
English: In ancient times I created Brahman who himself worshipped me in sacrifices. Pleased with him on that account I granted him many excellent boons.
Sanskrit: मत्पुत्रत्वं च कल्पादौ लोकाध्यक्षत्वमेव च॥ अहंकारकृतं चैव नाम पर्यायवाचकम्।
English: I said to him that in the beginning of the cycle he would be born to me as my son, and the sovereignty of all the worlds would he enjoy, and various names will be given to diverse objects on account of the Ahankara, i. e., egoism, coming into existence.
Sanskrit: त्वया कृतां च मर्यादा नातिक्रस्यति कश्चन॥ त्वं चैव वरदो ब्रह्मन् वरेप्सूनां भविष्यसि। सुरासुरगणानां च ऋषीणां च तपोधन॥
English: I also told him that none would ever violate the limits and boundaries he would lay down, and, further that he would be the giver of boons to persons who would solicit him for the same.
Sanskrit: पितॄणां च महाभाग सततं संशितव्रत। विविधानां च भूतानां त्वमुपास्यो भविष्यसि॥
English: I further assured him that he would be an object of worship with all the gods and Asuras, all the Rishis and Pitris, and the various creatures forming the creation.
Sanskrit: प्रादुर्भावगतश्चाहं सुरकार्येषु नित्यदा। अनुशास्यस्त्वया ब्रह्मन् नियोज्यश्च सुतो यथा।॥
English: I also gave him to understand that I would always appear for performing the business of the gods and for that I would allow myself to be commanded by him even as a son by his father.
Sanskrit: एतांश्चान्यांश्च रुचिरान् ब्रह्मणेऽमिततेजसे। अहं दत्त्वा वरान् प्रीतो निवृत्तिपरमोऽभवम्॥
English: Granting these and other highly agreeable boons to Brahman of great energy on account of my being propitiated with him I adopted the course dictated by Renunciation.
Sanskrit: निर्वाणं सर्वधर्माणां निवृत्तिः परमा स्मृता। तस्मान्निवृत्तिमापन्नश्चरेत् सर्वाङ्गनिर्वृतः॥
English: The highest Renunciation is the annihilation of all duties and acts. Hence, by adopting Renunciation one should act in complete happiness.
Sanskrit: विद्यासहायवन्तं च आदित्यस्थं समाहितम्। कपिलं प्राहुराचार्याः सांख्यनिश्चितनिश्चयाः॥
English: Learned preceptors, with settled conclusions deducted from the truths of the Sankhya philosophy, have spoken of me as Kapila endued with the power of knowledge, living within the effulgence of the Sun, and concentrated in Yoga.
Sanskrit: हिरण्यगर्भो भगवानेष च्छन्दसि सुष्टुतः। सोऽहं योगरतिर्ब्रह्मन् योगशास्त्रेषु शब्दितः॥
English: In the Vedas I have been repeatedly hymned as the illustrious Hiranyagarbha. In the Yoga-Shastras, O Brahmana, I have been spoken of as one who find pleasure in Yoga.
Sanskrit: एषोऽहं व्यक्तिमागत्य तिष्ठामि दिवि शाश्वतः। ततो युगसहस्रान्ते संहरिष्ये जगत् पुनः॥
English: I am eternal. Assuming a form that is manifest, I live at present, in the sky. At the end of a thousand cycles, I shall once more withdraw the universe into myself.
Sanskrit: कृत्वाऽऽत्मस्थानि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च। एकाकी विद्यया सार्धं विहरिष्ये जगत् पुनः॥
English: Having withdrawn all creatures, mobile and immobile, into myself, I shall exist all alone with Knowledge only as my companion.
Sanskrit: तयो भूयो जगत् सर्वं करिष्यामीह विद्यया। अस्मिन् मूर्तिश्चतुर्थी या सासृजज्छेषमव्ययम्॥
English: After the lapse of ages I shall again create the universe, with the help of that Knowledge. My fourth form creates the indestructible Shesha.
Sanskrit: स हि संकर्षणः प्रोक्तः प्रद्युम्नं सोऽप्यजीजनत्। प्रद्युम्नादनिरुद्धोऽहं सर्गो मम पुनः पुनः॥
English: That Shesha is called by the name of Sankarshana. Sankarshana creates Praddyumna. From Praddyumna I take birth myself as Aniruddha. I Aniruddha. I create (myself) repeatedly.
Sanskrit: अनिरुद्धात् तथा ब्रह्मा तन्नाभिकमलोद्भवः। ब्रह्मणः सर्वभूतानि चराणि स्थावराणि च॥
English: From Aniruddha originates Brahman. The latter is born from Aniruddha's navel. From Brahman originate all mobile and immobile creatures.
Sanskrit: एतां सृष्टिं विजानीहि कल्पादिषु पुनः पुनः। यथा सूर्यस्य गगनादुदयास्तमने इह॥
English: Know that Creation originates in this way repeatedly at the beginning of every cycle. Creation and destruction succeed each other like sunrise and sunset in this world.
Sanskrit: नष्टे पुनर्बलात् काल आनयत्यमितद्युतिः। तथा बलादहं पृथ्वी सर्वभूतहिताय वै॥ सत्त्वैराक्रान्तसर्वाङ्गां नष्टां सागरमेखलाम्। आनयिष्यामि स्वस्थानं वाराहं रूपमास्थितः॥ हिरण्याक्षं वधिष्यामि दैतेयं बलगवितम्।
English: Then, again, as Time, gifted with great energy, forcibly brings back the Sun after his disappearance, similarly I shall, assuming the form of a boar and displaying my strength, bring back the Earth with her belt of seas to her own position for the behoof of all creatures when she becomes submerged in water. I shall then kill the son of Diti, named Hiranyagarbha, elated with pride of strength.
Sanskrit: नारसिंहं वपुः कृत्वा हिरण्यकशिपुं पुनः॥ सुरकार्ये हनिष्यामि यज्ञघ्नं दितिनन्दनम्।
English: Assuming the form then of a Manlion, I shall, for doing good to the gods, kill Hiranyakasipu, the son of Diti, who will be a great destroyer of sacrifices.
Sanskrit: विरोचनस्य बलवान् बलिः पुत्रो महासुरः॥ अवध्यः सर्वलोकानां सदेवासुररक्षसाम्। भविष्यति स शक्रं वा स्वराज्याच्चयावयिष्यति॥
English: Virochana will have a powerful son named Vali. The entire universe consisting of gods, Asuras, and Rakshasas will not be able to kill that great Asura. He will hurl Shakra from the sovereignty of the universe.
Sanskrit: त्रैलोक्येऽपहते तेन विमुखे च शचीपतौ। अदित्यां द्वादशादित्यः सम्भविष्यामि कश्यपात्॥ (जटी गत्वा यज्ञसदः स्तूयमानो द्विजोत्तम। यज्ञस्तवं करिष्यामि श्रुत्वा प्रीतो भवेद् बलिः।। किमिच्छसि वटो बृहीत्युक्तो याचे महद् वरम्। दीयतां त्रिपदीमात्रमिति याचे महासुरम्।। स दद्यान्मयि सम्प्रीतः प्रतिषिद्धश्च मन्त्रिभिः। यावज्जलं हस्तगतं त्रिभिर्विक्रमणैर्वृतम्।।)
English: When after defeating the Lord of Shachi, that Asura will possess the sovereignty of the three worlds, I shall take birth in Aditi's womb, by Kashyapa, as the twelfth Aditya.
Sanskrit: ततो राज्यं प्रदास्यामि शक्रायामिततेजसे। देवताः स्थापयिष्यामि स्वस्वस्थानेषु नारद॥
English: I shall restore it to Indra of immeasurable splendour, and replace the gods, O Narada, in their respective stations,
Sanskrit: बलिं चैव करिष्यामि पातालतलवासिनम्। दानवं च बलिं श्रेष्ठमवध्यं सर्वदैवतैः॥
English: As regards Vali, that foremost of Danavas, who is to be unslayable by all the gods, I shall cause him to live in the nether regions.
Sanskrit: त्रेतायुगे भविष्यामि रामो भृगुकुलोद्वहः। क्षत्रं चोत्सादयिष्यामि समृद्धबलवाहनम्॥
English: In the Treta age I shall take birth as Rama in the race of Bhrigu, and root out the Kshatriyas who will become proud of their strength and riches.
Sanskrit: संध्यांशे समनुप्राप्ते त्रेताया द्वापरस्य च। अहं दाशरथी रामो भविष्यामि जगत्पतिः॥
English: Towards the end of Treta and the beginning of Dvapara, I shall take birth as Rama the son of Dasharatha in Ikshvaku's race.
Sanskrit: त्रितोपघाताद् वैरूप्यमेकतोऽथ द्वितस्तथा। प्राप्स्येते वानरत्वं हि प्रजापति सुतावृषी॥
English: At that time, the two Rishis, viz., the two sons of Prajapati, called by the names of Ekata and Dvita, will on account of the injury done by them to their brother Trita, have to take birth as monkeys, losing the beauty of the human forin.
Sanskrit: तयोर्ये त्वन्वये जाता भविष्यन्ति वनौकसः। महाबला महावीर्याः शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमाः॥ ते सहाया भविष्यन्ति सुरकार्ये मम द्विज।
English: Those monkeys that shall take birth in the race of Ekata and Dvita, shall become endued with great power and mighty energy and will equal Shakra himself in power. All those monkeys, O twice-born one, will become my allies for performing the work of the gods.
Sanskrit: ततो रक्षः :पति घोरं पुलस्त्यकुलपांसनम्॥ हरिष्ये रावणं रौद्रं सगणं लोककण्टकम्।
English: I shall then kill the dreadful king of the Rakshasas, that wretch of Pulastya's race, viz., the fierce Ravana, that thorn of all worlds, together with all his children and followers.
Sanskrit: द्वापरस्य कलेश्चैव संधौ पार्यवसानिके॥ प्रादुर्भाव: कंसहेतोर्मथुरायां भविष्यति।
English: At the junction the Dvapara and the Kali ages, I shall again appear in the world taking birth in city of Mathura for the purpose of killing Kansa.
Sanskrit: तत्राहं दानवान् हत्वा सुबहून् देवकण्टकान्॥ कुशस्थली करिष्यामि निवेशं द्वारकां पुरीम्।
English: There, after killing numberless Danavas that will be as thorns in the side of the gods, I shali take up my residence in Kushasthali at the city of Dwaraka.
Sanskrit: वसानस्तत्र वै पुर्यामदितेर्विप्रियंकरम्॥ हनिष्ये नरकं भौमं मुरं पीठं च दानवम्।
English: While living in that city I shall kill the Asura Naraka the chief of the Earth,-him, that is, who will do an injury to Aditi, as also some other Danavas of the names of Muru and Pitha.
Sanskrit: प्राग्ज्योतिषं पुरं रम्यं नानाधनसमन्वितम्॥ कुशस्थली नयिष्यामि हत्वा वै दानवोत्तमम्।
English: Killing also another foremost of Danavas, viz., the kill of Pragjyotisha, I shall transplant that delightful city furnished with various kinds of wealth into Dwaraka.
Sanskrit: महेश्वरमहासेनौ बाणप्रियहितैषिणौ॥ पराजेष्याम्यथायुक्तौ देवौ लोकनमस्कृतौ।
English: I shall then defeat the two gods adored of all the deities, viz., Maheshvara and Mahasena, who will become fond of the Danava Vana and do him various good offices and who will try their best for that worshipper of theirs.
Sanskrit: ततः सुतं बलेर्जित्वा बाणं बाहुसहस्रिणम्॥ विनाशयिष्यामि ततः सर्वान् सौभनिवासिनः।
English: Defeating next the son of the Danava Vali, viz., Bana, who will be possessed a thousandarms, I shall next destroy all the inhabitants of the Danava city called Saubha.
Sanskrit: यः कालयवनः ख्यातो गर्गतेजोऽभिसंवृतः॥ भविष्यति वधस्तस्य मत्त एव द्विजोत्तम।
English: I shall next, O foremost of Brahmanas, bring about the death of Kalayavana, a Danava who will be endued with great power on account of his being equipt with the energy of Gargya.
Sanskrit: जरासंधश्च बलवान् सर्वराजविरोधनः॥ भविष्यत्यसुरः स्फीतो भूमिपालो गिरिव्रजे। मम बुद्धिपरिस्पन्दाद् वधस्तस्य भविष्यति॥
English: A proud Asura will appear as a king at Girivraja, of the name of Jarasandha, who will fall out with all the other kings of the world. His death will be brought about by me through some one else guided by my intelligence.
Sanskrit: शिशुपालं वधिष्यामि यज्ञे धर्मसुतस्य वै। समागतेषु बलिषु पृथिव्यां सर्वराजसु॥ वासविः सुसहायो वै मम त्वेको भविष्यति।
English: I shall next kill Shisupala in the sacrifice of king Yudhishthira the son of Dharma, into which sacrifice all the kings of the world will bring tribute. In some of these works, only Arjuna, the son of Vasava, will become my assistant.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिरं स्थापयिष्ये स्वराज्ये भ्रातृभिः सह॥ एवं लोका वदिष्यन्ति नरनारायणावृषी। उद्युक्तौ दहतः क्षत्रं लोककार्यार्थमीश्वरौ॥ कृत्वा भारावतरणं वसुधाया यथेप्सितम्। सर्वसात्वतमुख्यानां द्वारकायाश्च सत्तम॥ करिष्ये प्रलयं घोरमात्मज्ञातिविनाशनम्।
English: I shall place Yudhishthira with all his brothers in his ancestral kingdom. People will call me and Arjuna as Narayana and Nara, when, endued with power, we two, putting forth our strength, shall kill a large number of Kshatriyas, for doing good to the world. Having lightened the load of the Earth according to our pleasure, I shall merge all the principal Satvatas, as also Dwaraka, my favourite city, into my own self, recollecting my all-einbracing Knowledge.
Sanskrit: कर्माण्यपरिमेयाणि चतुर्मूर्तिधरो ह्यहम्॥ कृत्वा लोकान् गमिष्यामि स्वानहं ब्रह्मसत्कृतान्।
English: Having four forms, I shall, in this way, perform many feats of great prowess, and attain at last to those regions of happiness created by me and honoured by all the Brahmanas.
Sanskrit: हंस: कूर्मश्च मत्स्यश्च प्रादुर्भावा द्विजोत्तम॥ वराहो नरसिंहश्च वामनो राम एव च। रामो दाशरथिश्चैव सात्वतः कल्किरेव च॥
English: Appearing in the forms of a swan, a tortoise, a fish, O foremost of twice-born ones, I shall then appear as a boar, then as a manlion, then as a dwarf, then as Rama of Bhrigu's race, then as Rama the son of Dasharatha, then as Krishna the scion of the Satvata race, and lastly as Kalki.
Sanskrit: यदा वेदश्रुतिर्नष्टा मया प्रत्याहृता पुनः। सवेदाः सश्रुतीकाश्च कृताः पूर्वं कृते युगे॥
English: When the Vedas disappeared from the world, I brought them back. The Vedas, were re-created by me in the Krita age.
Sanskrit: अतिक्रान्ताः पुराणेषु श्रुतास्ते यदि वा क्वचित्। अतिक्रान्ताश्च बहवः प्रादुर्भावा ममोत्तमाः॥
English: They have once more disappeared or may only be partially heard here and there in the Puranas. Many of my best incarnations also in the world have become facts of the past.
Sanskrit: लोककार्याणि कृत्वा च पुनः स्वां प्रकृतिं गताः। न ह्येतद् ब्रह्मणा प्राप्तमीदृशं मम दर्शनम्॥ यत् त्वया प्राप्तमद्येह एकान्तगतबुद्धिना। एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं ब्रह्मन् भक्तिमतो मया॥ पुराणं च भविष्यं च सरहस्यं च सत्तम।
English: Having secured the good of the worlds in those forms in which I appeared, they have reentered into my own Nature. Brahman (the Creator) himself never saw me in this form of mine, which you, O Narada, have seen to-day on account of your entire devotion to me. I have now said to you, who are devoted to me wholly, everything, O Brahmana. . I have described to you my ancient appearances and future ones also, O best of inen, together with ail their mysteries.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच एवं स भगवान् देवो विश्वमूर्तिधरोऽव्ययः॥ एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं तत्रैवान्तर्दधे पुनः।
English: Bhishma said ‘The holy and illustrious god, of universal and immutable form, having said these words to Narada, disappeared there and then.
Sanskrit: नारदोऽपि महातेजाः प्राप्यानुग्रहमीप्सितम्॥ सरनारायणौ द्रष्टुं बदर्याश्रममाद्रवत्।
English: Having won the high favour that he had solicited, Narada also, gifted with great energy, then proceeded in all haste to the retreat called Vadari, for seeing Nara and Narayana.
Sanskrit: इदं महोपनिषदं चतुर्वेदसमन्वितम्॥ सांख्ययोगकृतं तेन पञ्चरात्रानुशब्दितम्। नारायणमुखोद्गीतं नारदोऽश्रावयत् पुनः॥ ब्रह्मणः सदने तात यथादृष्टं यथाश्रुतम्।
English: This great Upanishad quite of a piece with the four Vedas, and the Sankhya-Yoga, and called by him by the name of the Pancharatra Scriptures and recited by Narayana himself with his own mouth, was repeated by Narada before a large audience in the residence of Brahman (his sire) in exactly the same way in which Narayana had recited it and in which he had heard it from his own lips."
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच एतदाश्चर्यभूतं हि माहात्म्यं तस्य धीमतः॥ किं वै ब्रह्मा न जानीते यतः शुश्राव नारदात्।
English: Yudhishthira said “Was not Brahman. the Creator of all things, acquainted with this wonderful discourse of the glory of Narayana gifted with intelligence that he heard it from the lips of Narada?
Sanskrit: पितामहोऽपि भगवांस्तस्माद् देवादनन्तरः॥ कथं स न विजानीयात् प्रभावममितौजसः।
English: Is the illustrious Grandfather of all the worlds any way different from or inferior to the great Narayana? How then it is that he was unacquainted with the power of Narayana of great energy?"
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच महाकल्पसहस्राणि महाकल्पशतानि च॥ समतीतानि राजेन्द्र सर्गाश्च प्रलयाश्च ह।
English: Bhishma continued "Hundreds and thousands of great cycles, hundreds and thousands of Creations and Dissolutions, O king of kings, have been over and become events of the past.
Sanskrit: सर्गस्यादौ स्मृतो ब्रह्मा प्रजासर्गकरः प्रभुः॥ जानाति देवप्रवरं भूयश्चातोऽधिकं नृप।
English: In the beginning of every Creation, Brahman, endued with great power and who creates all things, is remembered by Narayana). Brahman knows well, O king, that Narayana, that foremost of all gods is very much superior to him.
Sanskrit: परमात्मानमीशानमात्मनः प्रभवं तथा॥ ये त्वन्ये ब्रह्मसदने सिद्धसंघाः समागताः। तेभ्यस्तच्छावयामास पुराणं वेदसम्मितम्॥ तेषां सकाशात् सूर्यस्तु श्रुत्वा वै भावितात्मनाम्। आत्मानुगामिनां राजन् श्रावयामास वै ततः॥ षट् षष्टिर्हि सहस्राणि ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम्।
English: He knows that Narayana is the Supreme Soul, that He is the Supreme Lord, that He is Creator of Brahman himself. Narada recited this very ancient narrative which is perfectly consistent with the Vedas, to that assembly of Rishis crowned with ascetic success that came to the abode of Brahman. The gods Surya, having heard that narrative from those Rishis crowned with ascetic success, repeated it to the sixty-six thousands of Rishis, O king, of purified souls, that follow in his train.
Sanskrit: सूर्यस्य तपतो लोकान् निर्मिता ये पुरः सराः॥ तेषामकथयत् सूर्यः सर्वेषां भावितात्मनाम्।
English: And the Sun, the deity that imparts heat to all the worlds, repeated that narrative to those Beings also, of purified souls, that have been created (by Brahman) for always travelling in the van of the Sun.
Sanskrit: सूर्यानुगामिभिस्तात ऋषिभिस्तैर्महात्मभिः॥ मेरौ समागता देवाः श्राविताश्चेदमुत्तमम्।
English: The great Rishis who follow in the Sun's train, O son, repeated that excellent narrative to the deities assembled on the breast of Meru.
Sanskrit: देवानां तु सकाशाद् वै ततः श्रुत्वासितो द्विजः॥ श्रावयामास राजेन्द्र पितॄणां मुनिसत्तमः।
English: The best of ascetics, viz., the regener: Asita, then, having heard the narrative from the gods, repeated it to the Pitris, O king of kings.
Sanskrit: मम चापि पिता तात कथयामास शान्तनुः॥ ततो मयापि श्रुत्वा च कीर्तितं तव भारत।
English: I heard it from my father Shantanu, O son, who recited it to me formerly. Myself having heard it from my father, I have repeated it to you, O Bharata.
Sanskrit: सुरैर्वा मुनिभिर्वापि पुराणं यैरिदं श्रुतम्॥ सर्वे ते परमात्मानं पूजयन्ते समन्ततः।
English: Gods and ascetics, they who have heard this excellent old narrative which is a Purana, all worship the Supreme Soul.
Sanskrit: इदमाख्यानमार्षेयं पारम्पर्यागतं नृप॥ नावासुदेवभक्ताय त्वया देयं कथंचन।
English: This discourse, belonging to the Rishis and thus handed down from one to another, should not, O king, be communicated by you to any one who is not a worshipper of Vasudeva.
Sanskrit: मत्तोऽन्यानि च ते राजन्नुपाख्यानशतानि वै॥ यानि श्रुतानि सर्वाणि तेषां सारोऽयमुद्धृतः।
English: This narrative, O king, is really the cream of the hundreds of other discourses that you have heard from me.
Sanskrit: सुरासुरैर्यथा राजन् निर्मथ्यामृतमुद्धतम्॥ एवमेतत् पुरा विप्रैः कथामृतमिहोद्धृतम्।
English: In days of yore, O king, the gods and the Asuras, in a body, churned the Ocean and raised the Ambrosia. Similarly the Brahmanas, in a body in days of yore, churned all the scriptures and raised this narrative, which resembles nectar.
Sanskrit: यश्चेदं पठते नित्यं यश्चेदं शृणुयान्नरः॥ एकान्तभावोपगत एकान्तेषु समाहितः। प्राप्य श्वेतं महाद्वीपं भूत्वा चन्द्रप्रभो नरः॥ स सहस्रार्चिषं देवं प्रविशेन्नात्र संशयः।
English: He who frequently reads this narrative, and he who frequently listens to it with rapt attention, in a secluded spot, and filled with devotion, succeeds, being possessed of lunar complexion, in living in the spacious insular continent known by the name of White Island. Forsooth, such a man succeeds in entering into Narayana of a thousand rays.
Sanskrit: मुच्येदार्तस्तथा रोगाच्छ्रुत्वेमामादितः कथाम्॥ जिज्ञासुर्लभते कामान् भक्तो भक्तगतिं व्रजेत्।
English: By listening to this narrative from the beginning, a sick person becomes freed from his disease. The man who simply desires to read or listen to this discourse, gets the fruition of all his wishes. By reading or listening to it. The devoted worshipper acquires the high end reserved for devoted worshippers.
Sanskrit: त्वयापि सततं राजन्नभ्यर्च्यः पुरुषोत्तमः॥ स हि माता पिता चैव कृत्स्नस्य जगतो गुरुः।
English: You also, O king, should always adore and worship that foremost of all Beings. He is the father and the mother of all creatures, and He is an object of reverence to the entire universe.
Sanskrit: ब्रह्मण्यदेवो भगवान् प्रीयतां ते सनातनः॥ युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो महाबुद्धिर्जनार्दनः।
English: Let the illustrious and Eternal God of the Brahmanas, Viz., Janarddana of great intelligence, be pleased with you, O Yudhisthira of mighty arms.
Sanskrit: वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वैतदाख्यानवरं धर्मराड् जनमेजय॥ भ्रातरश्चास्य ते सर्वे नारायणपराऽभवन्।
English: Vaishampayana said Having listened to this best of discourses, O Janamejaya, king Yudhisthira the just, and all his brothers became devoted to Narayana.
Sanskrit: जितं भगवता तेन पुरुषेणेति भारत॥ नित्यं जप्यपरा भूत्वा सरस्वतीमुदीरयन्।
English: And all of them, O Bharata, silently meditating upon Narayana (from that day), uttered these words for His glorification, viz., Victory to that holy and illustrious Being.
Sanskrit: यो ह्यस्माकं गुरुश्रेष्ठः कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः॥ जगौ परमकं जप्यं नारायणमुदीरयन्।
English: He, again, who is our best of preceptors, viz., the Island-born Krishna, devoted to penances, sung, uttering the word Narayana, that great Mantra which is worthy of being silently.
Sanskrit: गत्वान्तरिक्षात् सततं क्षीरोदममृताशयम्॥ पूजयित्वा च देवेशं पुनरायात् स्वमाश्रमम्।
English: Passing through the sky to the Ocean of milk, which is always the abode of nectar, and adoring the great God there, be returned to his own hermitage.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं नारदोक्तं मयेरितम्॥ पारम्पर्यागतं ह्येतत् पित्रा मे कथितं पुरा।
English: Bhishma continued I have now recounted to you the discourse that was recited by Narada. That narrative has come down from person to person from very ancient times. I heard it from my father who formerly recounted it to me.
Sanskrit: सौतिरुवाच एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं वैशम्पायन कीर्तितम्॥ जनमेजयेन तच्छ्रुत्वा कृतं सम्यग् यथाविधि।
English: Suta said I have now told you all that Vaishampayana recounted to Janamejaya. Having listened to Vaishampayana's narration, king Janamejaya severe duly satisfied all his duties according to the scriptural ordinances.
Sanskrit: यूयं हि तप्ततपसः सर्वे च चरितव्रताः॥ सर्वे वेदविदो मुख्या नैमिषारण्यवासिनः।
English: You have have all practised very penances and observed many high and excellent vows. Living in this sacred forest of Naimisha, you are foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas.
Sanskrit: शौनकस्य महासत्रं प्राप्ताः सर्वे द्विजोत्तमाः॥ यजध्वं सुहुतैर्यज्ञैः शाश्वतं परमेश्वरम्। पारम्पर्यागतं ह्येतत् पित्रा मे कथितं पुरा॥
English: You foremost of twice-born ones, you all have come to this great sacrifice of Shaunaka. Do you all worship that Eternal and Supreme Lord of the universe in excellent sacrifices, properly pouring libations of clarified butter to the fire with the help of Mantras and dedicating the same to Narayana. As for myself, I heard this excellent discourse which has come down from generation to generation, from my father who recited it to me formerly.
Sanskrit: शौनक उवाच कथं स भगवान् देवो यज्ञेष्वग्रहरः प्रभुः। यज्ञधारी च सततं वेदवेदाङ्गवित् तथा॥
English: Saunaka said is that illustrious god, viz., the powerful Narayana, who is a master of the Vedas and their branches, at once the doer and the enjoyer of sacrifices?