Verse 40

⁴⁰This Purana named Bhagavata, of a measure with the Veda, the story of him whose praise is highest, was made by the revered sage. ⁴¹For the highest good of the world, fortunate and greatly auspicious, this he had his son take up, the best of those who possess themselves. ⁴²The essence of the essence, drawn out of all the Vedas and the histories, he in turn caused the great king Pariksit to hear. ⁴³The king sat by the Ganges awaiting his death, ringed by the greatest sages, after Krsna had gone to his own abode together with dharma and knowledge and the rest. ⁴⁴For those whose sight is lost in Kali, this sun of the Puranas has now risen. Brahmanas, there, while that brahmana-sage of abundant splendour was reciting,

⁴⁵I too sat by and took it in, by his favour; and I shall now let you hear it, as I studied it and as far as my understanding goes.