धर्मलोपभयाद्भीता जरत्कारुरचिन्तयत् । नोचेत्प्रबोथयाम्येनं सन्ध्याकालो वृथा व्रजेत्
Fearing the loss of righteousness, Jaratkaru thought, 'If I do not wake him, the time for evening rites will pass in vain.'
धर्मनाशाद्वरं त्यागस्तथापि मरणं ध्रुवम् । धर्महानिर्नराणां हि नरकाय भवेत्पुनः
It is better to be abandoned than to destroy righteousness; even so, death is certain, for the destruction of righteousness leads men to hell again.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य सा बाला तं मुनिं प्रत्यबोधयत् । सन्ध्याकालोऽपि सञ्जात उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठसुव्रत
Thinking thus, that young girl awakened the sage, saying: 'The time of twilight has come, rise, rise, O virtuous one!'
उत्थितोऽसौ मुनिः कोपात्तामुवाच व्रजाम्यहम् । त्वं तु भ्रातृगृहं याहि निद्राविच्छेदकारिणी
Rising, the sage, angered, said to her: 'I am leaving; you, who have disturbed my sleep, go to your brother's house.'
वेपमानाब्रवीद्वाक्यमित्युक्ता मुनिना तदा । भ्रात्रा दत्ता यदर्थं तत्कथं स्यादमितप्रभ
Trembling, she spoke these words, having been addressed so by the sage: 'O one of immeasurable radiance, how can the purpose for which my brother gave me be fulfilled?'
मुनिः प्राह जरत्कारुं तदस्तीति निराकुलः । गता सा मुनिना त्यक्ता वासुकेः सदनं तदा
The sage calmly replied to Jaratkaru, 'So be it.' Then, abandoned by the sage, she went to Vasuki's abode.
पृष्टा भ्रात्राब्रवीद्वाक्यं यथोक्तं पतिना तदा । अस्तीत्युक्त्वा च हित्वा मां गतोऽसौ मुनिसत्तमः
Questioned by her brother, she spoke the words as told by her husband: 'He said, “So be it,” and then, leaving me, that best of sages departed.'
वासुकिस्तु तदाकर्ण्य सत्यावाङ्मुनिरित्युत । विश्वासं च परं कृत्वा भगिनीं तां समाश्रयत्
Hearing this, Vasuki thought, 'The sage is indeed truthful,' and, placing great trust in her, sheltered his sister.
ततः कालेन कियता जातोऽसौ मुनिबालकः । आस्तीक इति नामासौ विख्यातः कुरुसत्तम
After some time, O best of the Kurus, a son was born to the sage and the maiden, who became renowned as Āstīka.
तेनायं रक्षितो यज्ञस्तव पार्थिवसत्तम । मातृपक्षस्य रक्षार्थं मुनिना भावितात्मना
By him, O best of kings, your sacrifice was protected, for the sake of safeguarding his mother's lineage, by the sage of purified soul.
भव्यं कृतं महाराज मानितोऽयं त्वया मुनिः । यायावरकुलोत्पनो वासुकेर्भगिनीसुतः
A blessed act has been done, O king; you have honored this sage, born in a family of wanderers, the son of Vasuki's sister.
स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु महाबाहो भारतं सकलं श्रुतम् । दानानि बहु दत्तानि पूजिता मुनयस्तथा
May there be well-being for you, O mighty-armed one; you have heard the entire story of the Bhāratas, given many gifts, and honored the sages as well.
कृतेन सुकृतेनापि न पिता स्वर्गतिं गतः । पावितं न कुलं कृत्स्नं त्वया भूपतिसत्तम
Even with many virtuous deeds performed, the father did not attain heaven, nor was the entire lineage purified by you, O best of kings.
देव्याश्चायतनं भूप विस्तीर्णं कुरु भक्तितः । येन वै सकला सिद्धिस्तव स्याज्जनमेजय
O king, establish a grand temple for the Goddess with devotion, by which, O Janamejaya, all success will surely be yours.
पूजिता परया भक्त्या शिवा सकलदा सदा । कुलवृद्धिं करोत्येव राज्यं च सुस्थिरं सदा
When Śivā is worshipped with supreme devotion, she always bestows all perfections, ever brings growth to the lineage, and keeps the kingdom stable.
देवीमखं विधानेन कृत्वा पार्थिवसत्तम । श्रीमद्भागवतं नाम पुराणं परमं शृणु
O best of kings, having performed the Goddess-sacrifice according to rule, now listen to the supreme Purāṇa called the Śrīmad Bhāgavata.
त्वामहं श्रावयिष्यामि कथां परमपावनीम् । संसारतारिणीं दिव्यां नानारससमाहृताम्
I shall cause you to hear the most sacred story, which delivers from worldly existence, is divine, and filled with many flavors.
न श्रोतव्यं परं चास्मात्पुराणाद्विद्यते भुवि । नाराध्यं विद्यते राजन्देवीपादाम्बुजादृते
There is no other Purāṇa on earth more worthy of hearing than this, O king, nor is there any worship apart from the lotus feet of the Goddess.
ते सभाग्याः कृतप्रज्ञा धन्यास्ते नृपसत्तम । येषां चित्ते सदा देवी वसति प्रेमसंकुले
Blessed, wise, and fortunate are those, O best of kings, in whose hearts the Goddess always dwells, overflowing with love.
सुदुःखितास्ते दृश्यन्ते भुवि भारत भारते । नाराधिता महामाया यैर्जनैश्च सदाम्बिका
Those people, O Bhārata, are seen to be greatly afflicted in this world, who have not always worshipped the great Māyā, the ever-compassionate Mother.
ब्रह्मादयः सुराः सर्वे यदाराधनतत्पराः । वर्तन्ते सर्वदा राजंस्तां न सेवेत को जनः
O King, all the gods beginning with Brahma are always intent on worshipping her; who then would not serve her?
य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् । भगवत्या समाख्यातं विष्णवे यदनुत्तमम्
Whoever listens to this daily, which has been perfectly declared by the Goddess to Vishnu, attains all desires.
तेन श्रुतेन ते राजंश्चित्ते शान्तिर्भविष्यति । पितॄणां चाक्षयः स्वर्गः पुराणश्रवणाद्भवेत्
By hearing this, O King, peace will arise in your mind; and by hearing this Purana, your ancestors will gain undiminishing heaven.
भुवनेश्वरीवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच - भगवन् भवता प्रोक्तं यज्ञमम्बाभिधं महत् । सा का कथं समुत्पन्ना कुत्र कस्माच्च किंगुणा
Janamejaya said: O Lord, you have spoken of the great sacrifice called Ambā; who is she, how did she arise, where, for what reason, and with what qualities?
कीदृशश्च मखस्तस्याः स्वरूपं कीदृशं तथा । विधानं विधिवद्ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञोऽसि दयानिधे
And what is the nature of her sacrifice, what is its true form? Tell me the proper procedure, O all-knowing, ocean of compassion.
ब्रह्माण्डस्य तथोत्पत्तिं वद विस्तरतस्तथा । यथोक्तं यादृशं ब्रह्मन्नखिलं वेत्सि भूसुर
Also, describe in detail the origin of the universe, as it has been said, and as you know it entirely, O best of the twice-born.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च त्रयो देवा मया श्रुताः । सृष्टिपालनसंहारकारकाः सगुणास्त्वमी
I have heard of three gods—Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra—who are endowed with qualities and perform creation, preservation, and destruction.
स्वतन्त्रास्ते महात्मानः पाराशर्य वदस्व मे । आहोस्वित्परतन्त्रास्ते श्रोतुमिच्छामि साम्प्रतम्
Are those great souls independent, O descendant of Parāśara? Or are they dependent on another? I wish to hear this now.
मृत्युधर्माश्च ते नो वा सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणः । अधिभूतादिभिर्युक्ता न वा दुःखैस्त्रिधात्मकैः
Are they subject to death and fate, or are they of the nature of existence, consciousness, and bliss? Are they connected with the elements and so on, or not afflicted by the threefold miseries?
कालस्य वशगा नो वा ते सुरेंद्रा महाबलाः । कथं ते वै समुत्पन्ना कस्मादिति च संशयः
Are those mighty lords of the gods under the control of time, or not? How did they arise, and for what reason? This is my doubt.