Descent of the Purana

Verse 1 (padma.1.1.1)

स्वच्छं चंद्रावदातं करिकरमकरक्षोभसंजातफेनं। ब्रह्मोद्भूतिप्रसक्तैर्व्रतनियमपरैः सेवितं विप्रमुख्यैः। कारालंकृतेन त्रिभुवनगुरुणा ब्रह्मणा दृष्टिपूतं। संभोगाभोगरम्यं जलमशुभहरं पौष्करं वः पुनातु।

svacchaṁ caṁdrāvadātaṁ karikaramakarakṣobhasaṁjātaphenaṁ brahmodbhūtiprasaktairvrataniyamaparaiḥ sevitaṁ vipramukhyaiḥ kārālaṁkṛtena tribhuvanaguruṇā brahmaṇā dṛṣṭipūtaṁ saṁbhogābhogaramyaṁ jalamaśubhaharaṁ pauṣkaraṁ vaḥ punātu

Clear and bright as the moon, foaming from the agitation stirred by elephants' trunks and crocodiles, frequented by foremost brahmins devoted to vows and rules who long for the manifestation of Brahma, sanctified by the gaze of Brahma, guru of the three worlds, delightful with abundance for enjoyment — may that inauspiciousness-removing water of Pushkara purify you all.

Verse 2 (padma.1.1.2)

सूतमेकांतमासीनं व्यासशिष्यं महामतिः। लोमहर्षणनामा वा उग्रश्रवसमाह तत्।

sūtamekāṁtamāsīnaṁ vyāsaśiṣyaṁ mahāmatiḥ lomaharṣaṇanāmā vā ugraśravasamāha tat

The great-minded Lomaharshana, disciple of Vyasa, spoke this to Suta Ugrashravas, who sat there apart with him.

Verse 3 (padma.1.1.3)

ऋषीणामाश्रमांस्तात गत्वा धर्मान्समासतः। पृच्छतां विस्तराद्ब्रूहि यन्मत्तः श्रुतवानसि।

ṛṣīṇāmāśramāṁstāta gatvā dharmānsamāsataḥ pṛcchatāṁ vistarādbrūhi yanmattaḥ śrutavānasi

"O son, go to the hermitages of the sages, and to those who ask briefly about dharma, relate in full what you have heard from me."

Verse 4 (padma.1.1.4)

वेदव्यासान्मया पुत्र पुराणान्यखिलानि च। तवाख्यातानि प्राप्तानि मुनिभ्यो वद विस्तरात्।

vedavyāsānmayā putra purāṇānyakhilāni ca tavākhyātāni prāptāni munibhyo vada vistarāt

"O son, tell the sages in detail all the Puranas that I received from Veda-Vyasa and related to you."

Verse 5 (padma.1.1.5)

प्रयागे मुनिवर्यैश्च यथापृष्टः स्वयं प्रभुः। पृष्टेन चानुशिष्टास्ते मुनयो धर्मकांक्षिणः।

prayāge munivaryaiśca yathāpṛṣṭaḥ svayaṁ prabhuḥ pṛṣṭena cānuśiṣṭāste munayo dharmakāṁkṣiṇaḥ

At Prayaga, when the foremost sages questioned the Lord himself, and being so questioned, he instructed those dharma-seeking sages.

Verse 6 (padma.1.1.6)

देशं पुण्यमभीप्संतो विभुना च हितैषिणा। सुनाभं दिव्यरूपं च सत्यगं शुभविक्रमं।

deśaṁ puṇyamabhīpsaṁto vibhunā ca hitaiṣiṇā sunābhaṁ divyarūpaṁ ca satyagaṁ śubhavikramaṁ

Desiring that sacred land, guided by that benevolent, well-wishing Lord's wheel — of beautiful hub, divine in form, true in its course, of auspicious motion —

Verse 7 (padma.1.1.7)

अनौपम्यमिदं चक्रं वर्तमानमतंद्रिताः। पृष्टतो यातनियमात्पदं प्राप्स्यथ यद्धितम्।

anaupamyamidaṁ cakraṁ vartamānamataṁdritāḥ pṛṣṭato yātaniyamātpadaṁ prāpsyatha yaddhitam

"This incomparable wheel moves on; by the rule of following tirelessly behind it, you will attain that beneficial place."

Verse 8 (padma.1.1.8)

गच्छतो धर्मचक्रस्य यत्र नेमिर्विशीर्यते। पुण्यः स देशो मंतव्य इत्युवाच स्वयं प्रभुः।

gacchato dharmacakrasya yatra nemirviśīryate puṇyaḥ sa deśo maṁtavya ityuvāca svayaṁ prabhuḥ

"Wherever the rim of this moving wheel of dharma wears away, that land is to be held sacred" — thus spoke the Lord himself.

Verse 9 (padma.1.1.9)

उक्त्वा चैवमृषीन्सर्वानदृश्यत्वमगात्पुनः। गंगावर्तसमाहारो नेमिर्यत्र व्यशीर्यत।

uktvā caivamṛṣīnsarvānadṛśyatvamagātpunaḥ gaṁgāvartasamāhāro nemiryatra vyaśīryata

Having said this, he vanished again from before all the sages; and where the wheel's rim wore away at the whirling confluence of the Ganga —

Verse 10 (padma.1.1.10)

ईजिरे दीर्घसत्रेण ऋषयो नैमिषे तदा। तत्र गत्वा तु तान्ब्रूहि पृच्छतो धर्मसंशयान्।

ījire dīrghasatreṇa ṛṣayo naimiṣe tadā tatra gatvā tu tānbrūhi pṛcchato dharmasaṁśayān

— there, at Naimisha, the sages performed sacrifice through a long session. "Go there, and relate this to those who ask about their doubts in dharma."

Verse 11 (padma.1.1.11)

उग्रश्रवास्ततो गत्वा ज्ञानविन्मुनिपुंगवान्। अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य नमस्कृत्वा कृतांजलिः।

ugraśravāstato gatvā jñānavinmunipuṁgavān abhigamyopasaṁgṛhya namaskṛtvā kṛtāṁjaliḥ

Then Ugrashravas went there, approached those foremost sages who were knowers of wisdom, drew near, bowed, and stood with joined palms.

Verse 12 (padma.1.1.12)

तोषयामास मेधावी प्रणिपातेन तानृषीन्। ते चापि सत्रिणः प्रीताः ससदस्या महात्मने।

toṣayāmāsa medhāvī praṇipātena tānṛṣīn te cāpi satriṇaḥ prītāḥ sasadasyā mahātmane

The wise one pleased those sages with his prostration; and those performers of the sacrifice, together with the assembly, were pleased with the great soul.

Verse 13 (padma.1.1.13)

तस्मै समेत्य पूजां च यथावत्प्रतिपेदिरे। ऋषय ऊचुः। कुतस्त्वमागतः सूत कस्माद्देशादिहागतः।

tasmai sametya pūjāṁ ca yathāvatpratipedire ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kutastvamāgataḥ sūta kasmāddeśādihāgataḥ

Gathering together, they duly honored him. The sages said: "From where have you come, O Suta? From what land have you arrived here?

Verse 14 (padma.1.1.14)

कारणं चागमे ब्रूहि वृंदारकसमद्युते। सूत उवाच। पित्राहं तु समादिष्टो व्यासशिष्येण धीमता।

kāraṇaṁ cāgame brūhi vṛṁdārakasamadyute sūta uvāca pitrāhaṁ tu samādiṣṭo vyāsaśiṣyeṇa dhīmatā

And tell us the reason for your coming, O you who shine like the gods." Suta said: "I was instructed by my father, the wise disciple of Vyasa —

Verse 15 (padma.1.1.15)

शुश्रूषस्व मुनीन्गत्वा यत्ते पृच्छंति तद्वद। वदंतु भगवंतो मां कथयामि कथां तु यां।

śuśrūṣasva munīngatvā yatte pṛcchaṁti tadvada vadaṁtu bhagavaṁto māṁ kathayāmi kathāṁ tu yāṁ

'Go and attend upon the sages; tell them whatever they ask.' Now let the venerable ones instruct me — which story shall I tell —

Verse 16 (padma.1.1.16)

पुराणं चेतिहासं वा धर्मानथ पृथग्विधान्। तां गिरं मधुरां तस्य शुश्रुवुर्ऋषिसत्तमाः।

purāṇaṁ cetihāsaṁ vā dharmānatha pṛthagvidhān tāṁ giraṁ madhurāṁ tasya śuśruvurṛṣisattamāḥ

— a Purana, or an Itihasa, or the various kinds of dharma?" The foremost sages heard that sweet speech of his.

Verse 17 (padma.1.1.17)

अथ तेषां पुराणस्य शुश्रूषा समपद्यत। दृष्ट्वा तमतिविश्वस्तं विद्वांसं लौमहर्षणिं।

atha teṣāṁ purāṇasya śuśrūṣā samapadyata dṛṣṭvā tamativiśvastaṁ vidvāṁsaṁ laumaharṣaṇiṁ

Then their wish arose to hear the Purana, on seeing him — Lomaharshani, so trustworthy and learned.

Verse 18 (padma.1.1.18)

तस्मिन्सत्रे कुलपतिस्सर्वशास्त्राविशारदः। शौनको नाम मेधावी विज्ञानारण्यके गुरुः।

tasminsatre kulapatissarvaśāstrāviśāradaḥ śaunako nāma medhāvī vijñānāraṇyake guruḥ

In that sacrificial session, the head of the assembly — Shaunaka by name, wise and versed in all the shastras — was the guru at Vijnana-aranya.

Verse 19 (padma.1.1.19)

इत्थं तद्भावमालंब्य धर्माञ्छुश्रूषुराह तम्। त्वया सूत महाबुद्धे भगवान्ब्रह्मवित्तमः।

itthaṁ tadbhāvamālaṁbya dharmāñchuśrūṣurāha tam tvayā sūta mahābuddhe bhagavānbrahmavittamaḥ

Taking up this thought, wishing to hear of dharma, he said to him: "O great-minded Suta, you have —

Verse 20 (padma.1.1.20)

इतिहासपुराणार्थं व्यासः सम्यगुपासितः। दुदोहिथमतिं तस्य त्वं पुराणाश्रयां शुभां।

itihāsapurāṇārthaṁ vyāsaḥ samyagupāsitaḥ dudohithamatiṁ tasya tvaṁ purāṇāśrayāṁ śubhāṁ

— rightly attended upon Vyasa for the sake of the Itihasa-Purana, and drawn forth his auspicious wisdom resting in the Purana.

Verse 21 (padma.1.1.21)

अमीषां विप्रमुख्यानां पुराणं प्रति सम्प्रति। शुश्रूषाऽस्ते महाबुद्धे तछ्रावयितुमर्हसि।

amīṣāṁ vipramukhyānāṁ purāṇaṁ prati samprati śuśrūṣā'ste mahābuddhe tachrāvayitumarhasi

These foremost brahmins now wish to hear the Purana; O great-minded one, you are worthy to relate it."

Verse 22 (padma.1.1.22)

सर्वे हीमे महात्मानो नानागोत्राः समागताः। स्वान्स्वानंशान्पुराणोक्ताञ्छृण्वन्तु ब्रह्मवादिनः।

sarve hīme mahātmāno nānāgotrāḥ samāgatāḥ svānsvānaṁśānpurāṇoktāñchṛṇvantu brahmavādinaḥ

"All these great souls of various lineages have gathered here; let these knowers of Brahman hear their own respective portions as told in the Purana."

Verse 23 (padma.1.1.23)

संपूर्णे दीर्घसत्रेस्मिंस्तांस्त्वं श्रावय वै मुनीन्। पाद्मं पुराणं सर्वेषां कथयस्व महामते।

saṁpūrṇe dīrghasatresmiṁstāṁstvaṁ śrāvaya vai munīn pādmaṁ purāṇaṁ sarveṣāṁ kathayasva mahāmate

"In this whole long sacrificial session, make those sages hear; O wise one, relate the Padma Purana to them all."

Verse 24 (padma.1.1.24)

कथं पद्मं समुद्भूतं ब्रह्म तत्र कथं न्वभूत्। प्रोद्भूतेन कथं सृष्टिः कृता तां तु तथा वद।

kathaṁ padmaṁ samudbhūtaṁ brahma tatra kathaṁ nvabhūt prodbhūtena kathaṁ sṛṣṭiḥ kṛtā tāṁ tu tathā vada

"How did the lotus arise? How did Brahma come to be within it? And how was creation made by the Brahma so arisen — tell it just as it was."

Verse 25 (padma.1.1.25)

एवं पृष्टस्ततस्तांस्तु प्रत्युवाच शुभां गिरम्। सूक्ष्मं च न्यायसंयुक्तं प्राब्रवीद्रौमहर्षणिः।

evaṁ pṛṣṭastatastāṁstu pratyuvāca śubhāṁ giram sūkṣmaṁ ca nyāyasaṁyuktaṁ prābravīdraumaharṣaṇiḥ

Thus questioned, he answered them with auspicious speech; Romaharshani spoke words that were subtle and reasoned.

Verse 26 (padma.1.1.26)

प्रीतोस्म्यनुगृहीतोस्मि भवद्भिरिह चोदनात्। पुराणार्थं पुराणज्ञैः सर्वधर्मपरायणैः।

prītosmyanugṛhītosmi bhavadbhiriha codanāt purāṇārthaṁ purāṇajñaiḥ sarvadharmaparāyaṇaiḥ

"I am pleased, I am graced, by this prompting of yours concerning the Purana — you who know the Purana and are devoted to every dharma.

Verse 27 (padma.1.1.27)

यथाश्रुतं सुविख्यातं तत्सर्वं कथयामि वः। धर्म एष तु सूतस्य सद्भिर्दृष्टः सनातनः।

yathāśrutaṁ suvikhyātaṁ tatsarvaṁ kathayāmi vaḥ dharma eṣa tu sūtasya sadbhirdṛṣṭaḥ sanātanaḥ

I shall tell you all of it, well known, exactly as I have heard it. This indeed is the eternal dharma of the Suta, recognized by the virtuous —

Verse 28 (padma.1.1.28)

देवतानामृषीणां च राज्ञां चामिततेजसाम्। वंशानां धारणं कार्यं स्तुतीनां च महात्मनाम्।

devatānāmṛṣīṇāṁ ca rājñāṁ cāmitatejasām vaṁśānāṁ dhāraṇaṁ kāryaṁ stutīnāṁ ca mahātmanām

— to preserve the lineages of the gods, the sages, and kings of measureless splendor, and the praises of great souls.

Verse 29 (padma.1.1.29)

इतिहासपुराणेषु दृष्टा ये ब्रह्मवादिनः। न हि वेदेष्वधीकारः कश्चित्सूतस्य दृश्यते।

itihāsapurāṇeṣu dṛṣṭā ye brahmavādinaḥ na hi vedeṣvadhīkāraḥ kaścitsūtasya dṛśyate

Knowers of Brahman appear indeed in the Itihasas and Puranas; for no authority of the Suta over the Vedas themselves is seen.

Verse 30 (padma.1.1.30)

वैन्यस्य हि पृथोर्यज्ञे वर्त्तमाने महात्मनः। मागधश्चैव सूतश्च तमस्तौतां नरेश्वरम्।

vainyasya hi pṛthoryajñe varttamāne mahātmanaḥ māgadhaścaiva sūtaśca tamastautāṁ nareśvaram

Indeed, at the sacrifice of the great-souled Prithu, son of Vena, both Magadha and Suta praised that lord of men.

Verse 31 (padma.1.1.31)

तुष्टेनाथ तयोर्द्दत्तो वरो राज्ञा महात्मना। सूताय सूतविषयो मगधो मागधाय च।

tuṣṭenātha tayorddatto varo rājñā mahātmanā sūtāya sūtaviṣayo magadho māgadhāya ca

Then, pleased, the great-souled king granted them a boon: to Suta, the region of Suta; and Magadha, to the Magadha.

Verse 32 (padma.1.1.32)

तत्र सूत्यां समुत्पन्नः सूतो नामेह जायते। ऐन्द्रे सत्रे प्रवृत्ते तु ग्रहयुक्ते बृहस्पतौ।

tatra sūtyāṁ samutpannaḥ sūto nāmeha jāyate aindre satre pravṛtte tu grahayukte bṛhaspatau

There, at the Soma-pressing, while the sacrifice of Indra was in progress, with Brihaspati in conjunction, one named Suta was born.

Verse 33 (padma.1.1.33)

तमेवेंद्रं बार्हस्पत्ये तत्र सूतो व्यजायत। शिष्यहस्तेन यत्पृक्तमभिभूतं गुरोर्हविः।

tameveṁdraṁ bārhaspatye tatra sūto vyajāyata śiṣyahastena yatpṛktamabhibhūtaṁ gurorhaviḥ

In that very hour of Indra sacred to Brihaspati, Suta was born there — from the guru's oblation, touched by the disciple's hand and thereby tainted —

Verse 34 (padma.1.1.34)

अधरोत्तरधारेण जज्ञे तद्वर्णसंकरम्। येत्र क्षत्रात्समभवन्ब्राह्मण्याश्चैव योनितः।

adharottaradhāreṇa jajñe tadvarṇasaṁkaram yetra kṣatrātsamabhavanbrāhmaṇyāścaiva yonitaḥ

— through the lower and upper pouring, that mixed-caste being was born, sprung from a Kshatriya father and a Brahmin mother's womb.

Verse 35 (padma.1.1.35)

पूर्वेणैव तु साधर्म्याद्वैधर्मास्ते प्रकीर्तिताः। मध्यमो ह्येष सूतस्य धर्मः क्षेत्रोपजीविनः।

pūrveṇaiva tu sādharmyādvaidharmāste prakīrtitāḥ madhyamo hyeṣa sūtasya dharmaḥ kṣetropajīvinaḥ

By their earlier likeness of dharma, they are declared to be of mixed dharma; this indeed is the middling dharma of the Suta, who lives by the land.

Verse 36 (padma.1.1.36)

पुराणेष्वधिकारो मे विहितो ब्राह्मणैरिह। दृष्ट्वा धर्ममहं पृष्टो भवद्भिर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः।

purāṇeṣvadhikāro me vihito brāhmaṇairiha dṛṣṭvā dharmamahaṁ pṛṣṭo bhavadbhirbrahmavādibhiḥ

My authority over the Puranas has thus been ordained here by the brahmins; seeing this dharma, you knowers of Brahman have questioned me.

Verse 37 (padma.1.1.37)

तस्मात्सम्यग्भुवि ब्रूयां पुराणमृषिपूजितम्। पितॄणां मानसी कन्या वासवं समपद्यत।

tasmātsamyagbhuvi brūyāṁ purāṇamṛṣipūjitam pitṝṇāṁ mānasī kanyā vāsavaṁ samapadyata

Therefore let me properly relate on earth this Purana honored by sages. A daughter born of the mind of the Pitris came to be united with Vasava.

Verse 38 (padma.1.1.38)

अपध्याता च पितृभिर्मत्स्यगर्भे बभूव सा। अरणीव हुताशस्य निमित्तं पुण्यजन्मनः।

apadhyātā ca pitṛbhirmatsyagarbhe babhūva sā araṇīva hutāśasya nimittaṁ puṇyajanmanaḥ

But, being ill-regarded by the Pitris, she came to be in the womb of a fish — as the fire-stick is the cause of the sacred birth of fire.

Verse 39 (padma.1.1.39)

तस्यां बभूव पूतात्मा महर्षिस्तु पराशरात्। तस्मै भगवते कृत्वा नमः सत्याय वेधसे।

tasyāṁ babhūva pūtātmā maharṣistu parāśarāt tasmai bhagavate kṛtvā namaḥ satyāya vedhase

From her, through Parashara, that pure-souled great sage was born. Having bowed to that truthful Lord, the ordainer —

Verse 40 (padma.1.1.40)

पुरुषाय पुराणाय ब्रह्मवाक्यानुवर्तिने। मानवच्छद्मरूपाय विष्णवे शंसितात्मने।

puruṣāya purāṇāya brahmavākyānuvartine mānavacchadmarūpāya viṣṇave śaṁsitātmane

— to that Purusha, the ancient one, who follows the word of Brahma, who takes on a human form as disguise, to Vishnu of purified soul —

Verse 41 (padma.1.1.41)

जातमात्रं च यं वेद उपतस्थे ससंग्रहः। मतिमंथानमाविध्य येनासौ श्रुतिसागरात्।

jātamātraṁ ca yaṁ veda upatasthe sasaṁgrahaḥ matimaṁthānamāvidhya yenāsau śrutisāgarāt

— whom, the moment he was born, the Veda together with its compendium came to attend; who, churning the churn of wisdom, from the ocean of scripture —

Verse 42 (padma.1.1.42)

प्रकाशो जनितो लोके महाभारत चंद्रमाः। भारतं भानुमान्विष्णुर्यदि न स्युरमी त्रयः।

prakāśo janito loke mahābhārata caṁdramāḥ bhārataṁ bhānumānviṣṇuryadi na syuramī trayaḥ

— brought forth light into the world: the Mahabharata is as a moon, the Bharata as a sun; if these three, with Vishnu, did not exist —

Verse 43 (padma.1.1.43)

ततोऽज्ञानतमोंधस्य कावस्था जगतो भवेत्। कृष्णद्वैपायनं व्यासं विद्धि नारायणं प्रभुम्।

tato'jñānatamoṁdhasya kāvasthā jagato bhavet kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṁ vyāsaṁ viddhi nārāyaṇaṁ prabhum

— then what would be the state of this world, blinded by the darkness of ignorance? Know Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa to be the Lord Narayana himself.

Verse 44 (padma.1.1.44)

को ह्यन्यः पुंडरीकाक्षान्महाभारतकृद्भवेत्। तस्मादहमुपाश्रौषं पुराणं ब्रह्मवादिनः।

ko hyanyaḥ puṁḍarīkākṣānmahābhāratakṛdbhavet tasmādahamupāśrauṣaṁ purāṇaṁ brahmavādinaḥ

For who else but the lotus-eyed one could be the maker of the Mahabharata? Therefore I heard this Purana from a knower of Brahman —

Verse 45 (padma.1.1.45)

सर्वज्ञात्सर्वलोकेषु पूजिताद्दीप्ततेजसः। पुराणं सर्वशास्त्राणां प्रथमं ब्रह्मणा स्मृतम्।

sarvajñātsarvalokeṣu pūjitāddīptatejasaḥ purāṇaṁ sarvaśāstrāṇāṁ prathamaṁ brahmaṇā smṛtam

— from the all-knowing one, honored in every world, of blazing splendor. The Purana was declared by Brahma to be first among all the shastras.

Verse 46 (padma.1.1.46)

उत्तमं सर्वलोकानां सर्वज्ञानोपपादकम्। त्रिवर्गसाधनं पुण्यं शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम्।

uttamaṁ sarvalokānāṁ sarvajñānopapādakam trivargasādhanaṁ puṇyaṁ śatakoṭipravistaram

It is the finest for all worlds, the establisher of all knowledge, the means to the three ends of life, sacred, and extending to a hundred crore verses.

Verse 47 (padma.1.1.47)

निःशेषेषु च लोकेषु वाजिरूपेण केशवः। ब्रह्मणस्तु समादेशाद्वेदानाहृतवानसौ।

niḥśeṣeṣu ca lokeṣu vājirūpeṇa keśavaḥ brahmaṇastu samādeśādvedānāhṛtavānasau

And in all the worlds, Keshava, taking the form of a horse, by Brahma's command, recovered the Vedas —

Verse 48 (padma.1.1.48)

अंगानि चतुरो वेदान्पुराणन्यायविस्तरम्। असुरेणाखिलं शास्त्रमपहृत्यात्मसात्कृतम्।

aṁgāni caturo vedānpurāṇanyāyavistaram asureṇākhilaṁ śāstramapahṛtyātmasātkṛtam

— the four Vedas with their limbs, the Puranas, and the vast body of logic, which an Asura had stolen and made his own.

Verse 49 (padma.1.1.49)

मत्स्यरूपेणाजहार कल्पादावुदकार्णवे। अशेषमेतदवददुदकांतर्गतो विभुः।

matsyarūpeṇājahāra kalpādāvudakārṇave aśeṣametadavadadudakāṁtargato vibhuḥ

In the form of a fish, at the beginning of the kalpa, in the ocean of waters, he recovered it; the Lord, submerged in that water, declared all of it without remainder.

Verse 50 (padma.1.1.50)

श्रुत्वा जगाद च मुनीन्प्रतिवेदांश्चतुर्मुखः। प्रवृत्तिस्सर्वशास्त्राणां पुराणस्याभवत्तदा।

śrutvā jagāda ca munīnprativedāṁścaturmukhaḥ pravṛttissarvaśāstrāṇāṁ purāṇasyābhavattadā

Having heard it, the four-faced Brahma then spoke to the sages of each Veda in turn; and thus began the tradition of all the shastras and of the Purana.

Verse 51 (padma.1.1.51)

कालेनाग्रहणं दृष्ट्वा पुराणस्य तदा विभुः। व्यासरूपस्तदा ब्रह्मा संग्रहार्थं युगे युगे।

kālenāgrahaṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā purāṇasya tadā vibhuḥ vyāsarūpastadā brahmā saṁgrahārthaṁ yuge yuge

Seeing, with the passage of time, that the Purana was ceasing to be retained, the Lord Brahma, taking the form of Vyasa, for the sake of its compilation, age after age —

Verse 52 (padma.1.1.52)

चतुर्लक्षप्रमाणेन द्वापरे द्वापरे जगौ। तदाष्टादशधा कृत्वा भूलोकेस्मिन्प्रकाशितं।

caturlakṣapramāṇena dvāpare dvāpare jagau tadāṣṭādaśadhā kṛtvā bhūlokesminprakāśitaṁ

— recited it, in every Dvapara age, in the measure of four hundred thousand verses; then, dividing it eighteenfold, revealed it here on this earth.

Verse 53 (padma.1.1.53)

अद्यापि देवलोकेषु शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम्। तदेवात्र चतुर्लक्षं संक्षेपेण निवेशितम्।

adyāpi devalokeṣu śatakoṭipravistaram tadevātra caturlakṣaṁ saṁkṣepeṇa niveśitam

Even today, in the worlds of the gods, it runs to a hundred crore verses; that very text has here, in abridgement, been set down in four hundred thousand.

Verse 54 (padma.1.1.54)

प्रवक्ष्यामि महापुण्यं पुराणं पाद्मसञ्ज्ञितम्। सहस्रं पञ्चपञ्चाशत्पंचखण्डैस्समन्वितम्।

pravakṣyāmi mahāpuṇyaṁ purāṇaṁ pādmasañjñitam sahasraṁ pañcapañcāśatpaṁcakhaṇḍaissamanvitam

I shall now relate the greatly sacred Purana called Padma, comprising fifty-five thousand verses arranged in five Khandas.

Verse 55 (padma.1.1.55)

तत्रादौ सृष्टिखण्डं स्याद्भूमिखण्डं ततः परम्। स्वर्गखण्डं ततः पश्चात्ततः पातालखण्डकम्।

tatrādau sṛṣṭikhaṇḍaṁ syādbhūmikhaṇḍaṁ tataḥ param svargakhaṇḍaṁ tataḥ paścāttataḥ pātālakhaṇḍakam

In it, first comes the Srishti Khanda, then the Bhumi Khanda, after that the Svarga Khanda, and then the Patala Khanda.

Verse 56 (padma.1.1.56)

पञ्चमं च ततः ख्यातमुत्तरं खण्डमुत्तमम्। एतदेव महापद्ममुद्भूतं यन्मयं जगत्।

pañcamaṁ ca tataḥ khyātamuttaraṁ khaṇḍamuttamam etadeva mahāpadmamudbhūtaṁ yanmayaṁ jagat

And fifth, the celebrated and excellent Uttara Khanda. This is that same great lotus from which this whole world arose, being made of it.

Verse 57 (padma.1.1.57)

तद्वृत्तान्ताश्रयं यस्मात्पाद्ममित्युच्यते ततः। एतत्पुराणममलं विष्णुमाहात्म्यनिर्मलम्।

tadvṛttāntāśrayaṁ yasmātpādmamityucyate tataḥ etatpurāṇamamalaṁ viṣṇumāhātmyanirmalam

Since it rests upon the account of that lotus, it is therefore called "Padma." This spotless Purana is pure with the glory of Vishnu.

Verse 58 (padma.1.1.58)

देवदेवो हरिर्यद्वै ब्रह्मणे प्रोक्तवान्पुरा। ब्रह्मणाभिहितं पूर्वं यावन्मात्रं मरीचये।

devadevo hariryadvai brahmaṇe proktavānpurā brahmaṇābhihitaṁ pūrvaṁ yāvanmātraṁ marīcaye

What Hari, god of gods, spoke of old to Brahma — and whatever Brahma in turn had earlier told to Marichi —

Verse 59 (padma.1.1.59)

एतदेव च वै ब्रह्मा पाद्मं लोके जगाद वै। सर्वभूताश्रयं तच्च पाद्ममित्युच्यते बुधैः।

etadeva ca vai brahmā pādmaṁ loke jagāda vai sarvabhūtāśrayaṁ tacca pādmamityucyate budhaiḥ

— this very same Brahma proclaimed in the world as the Padma; and since it is the refuge of all beings, the wise call it "Padma."

Verse 60 (padma.1.1.60)

पाद्मं तत्पंचपंचाशत्सहस्राणीह पठ्यते। पंचभिः पर्वभिः प्रोक्तं संक्षेपाद्व्यासकारितात्।

pādmaṁ tatpaṁcapaṁcāśatsahasrāṇīha paṭhyate paṁcabhiḥ parvabhiḥ proktaṁ saṁkṣepādvyāsakāritāt

This Padma is here recited in fifty-five thousand verses; declared, in Vyasa's own abridgement, across five sections.

Verse 61 (padma.1.1.61)

पौष्करं प्रथमं पर्व यत्रोत्पन्नः स्वयं विराट्। द्वितीयं तीर्थपर्व स्यात्सर्वग्रहगणाश्रयम्।

pauṣkaraṁ prathamaṁ parva yatrotpannaḥ svayaṁ virāṭ dvitīyaṁ tīrthaparva syātsarvagrahagaṇāśrayam

The first section is the Pushkara Parva, in which the Virat cosmic being himself arose. The second is the Tirtha Parva, the refuge of all the planets and their hosts.

Verse 62 (padma.1.1.62)

तृतीयपर्वग्रहणा राजानो भूरिदक्षिणाः। वंशानुचरितं चैव चतुर्थे परिकीर्तितम्।

tṛtīyaparvagrahaṇā rājāno bhūridakṣiṇāḥ vaṁśānucaritaṁ caiva caturthe parikīrtitam

In the third section is told the account of kings of abundant sacrificial gifts; and in the fourth, the story of the dynasties is declared.

Verse 63 (padma.1.1.63)

पंचमे मोक्षतत्वं च सर्वतत्वं निगद्यते। पौष्करे नवधा सृष्टिः सर्वेषां ब्रह्मकारिता।

paṁcame mokṣatatvaṁ ca sarvatatvaṁ nigadyate pauṣkare navadhā sṛṣṭiḥ sarveṣāṁ brahmakāritā

In the fifth are declared the truth of liberation and every truth. In the Pushkara section, the ninefold creation wrought by Brahma —

Verse 64 (padma.1.1.64)

देवतानां मुनीनां च पितृसर्गस्तथापरः। द्वितीये पर्वताश्चैव द्वीपाः सप्त ससागराः।

devatānāṁ munīnāṁ ca pitṛsargastathāparaḥ dvitīye parvatāścaiva dvīpāḥ sapta sasāgarāḥ

— of the gods, of the sages, and further of the ancestors, is told. In the second section, the mountains and the seven continents with their oceans.

Verse 65 (padma.1.1.65)

तृतीये रुद्रसर्गस्तु दक्षशापस्तथैव च। चतुर्थे संभवो राज्ञां सर्ववंशानुकीर्त्तनम्।

tṛtīye rudrasargastu dakṣaśāpastathaiva ca caturthe saṁbhavo rājñāṁ sarvavaṁśānukīrttanam

In the third, the creation of Rudra and likewise Daksha's curse. In the fourth, the origin of kings and the recounting of every dynasty.

Verse 66 (padma.1.1.66)

अन्त्येपवर्गसंस्थानं मोक्षशास्त्रानुकीर्त्तनम्। सर्वमेतत्पुराणेऽस्मित्कथयिष्यामि वो द्विजाः।

antyepavargasaṁsthānaṁ mokṣaśāstrānukīrttanam sarvametatpurāṇe'smitkathayiṣyāmi vo dvijāḥ

In the last, the establishment of final release and the recounting of the scripture of liberation. All of this, O twice-born ones, I shall relate to you in this Purana.

Verse 67 (padma.1.1.67)

इदं पवित्रं यशसो निधानमिदं पितॄणामतिवल्लभं स्यात् इदं च देवस्य सुखाय नित्यमिदं महापातकभिच्च पुंसाम्।

idaṁ pavitraṁ yaśaso nidhānamidaṁ pitṝṇāmativallabhaṁ syāt idaṁ ca devasya sukhāya nityamidaṁ mahāpātakabhicca puṁsām

This is sacred, a treasury of fame; this is most dear to the ancestors; this ever brings joy to the gods; and this destroys the great sins of men.