The ''Bhagavata Purana'' (; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam)'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' () or simply ''Bhagavata (Bhāgavata)'', is one of

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

's eighteen major

Purana Puranas (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
(1995 Editio ...

s (''Mahapuranas'') and one of the most popular in

Vaishnavism Vaishnavism () ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, that considers Vishnu as the sole Para Brahman, supreme being leading all other Hindu deities, that is, ''Mahavishnu''. It is one of the majo ...

. Composed in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

and traditionally attributed to

Veda Vyasa Vyasa (; , ) or Veda Vyasa (, ), also known as Krishna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasa (, ''Vedavyāsa''), is a ''rishi'' (sage) with a prominent role in most Hindu traditions. He is traditionally regarded as the author of the epic Mahābhārata, w ...

, it promotes ''

bhakti ''Bhakti'' (; Pali: ''bhatti'') is a term common in Indian religions which means attachment, fondness for, devotion to, trust, homage, worship, piety, faith, or love.See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. In Indian religions, it ...

'' (devotion) towards

Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...

, an

avatar Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes u ...

Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...

, integrating themes from the Advaita (monism) philosophy of

Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (8th c. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya (, ), was an Indian Vedanga, Vedic scholar, Hindu philosophy, philosopher and teacher (''acharya'') of Advaita Vedanta. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and h ...

, the

Vishishtadvaita Vishishtadvaita (IAST '; ) is a school of Hindu philosophy belonging to the Vedanta tradition. Vedanta refers to the profound interpretation of the Vedas based on Prasthanatrayi. Vishishta Advaita, meaning "non-duality with distinctions", is a ...

(qualified monism) of Ramanujacharya and the

Dvaita Dvaita Vedanta (); (originally known as Tattvavada; IAST: ''Tattvavāda''), is a sub-school in the Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') trad ...

(dualism) of

Madhvacharya Madhvacharya (; ; 1199–1278 CE or 1238–1317 CE), also known as Purna Prajna () and Ānanda Tīrtha, was an Indian philosopher, theologian and the chief proponent of the ''Dvaita'' (dualism) school of Vedanta. Madhva called his philosophy ...

. It is widely available in almost all Indian languages. The ''Bhagavata Purana'', like other puranas, discusses a wide range of topics including

cosmology Cosmology () is a branch of physics and metaphysics dealing with the nature of the universe, the cosmos. The term ''cosmology'' was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's ''Glossographia'', with the meaning of "a speaking of the wo ...

, astronomy,

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kin ...

, geography, legend, music, dance,

yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...

and culture. As it begins, the forces of evil have won a war between the benevolent '' devas'' (deities) and evil ''

asura Asuras () are a class of beings in Indian religions, and later Persian and Turkic mythology. They are described as power-seeking beings related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhist context, the wor ...

s'' (demons) and now rule the universe. Truth re-emerges as Krishna (called "

Hari Hari () is among the primary epithets of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, meaning 'the one who takes away' (sins). It refers to the one who removes darkness and illusion, the one who removes all obstacles to spiritual progress. The name Ha ...

" and "

Vāsudeva Vāsudeva (; ), later incorporated as Vāsudeva-Krishna (, "Krishna, son of Vasudeva Anakadundubhi, Vasudeva"),"While the earliest piece of evidence do not yet use the name Krsna...." in At the time of the Heliodorus pillar dedication to Vāsu ...

" in the text) first makes peace with the demons, understands them and then creatively defeats them, bringing back hope, justice, freedom and happiness – a cyclic theme that appears in many legends. The ''Bhagavata Purana'' is a central text in

. The text presents a form of religion (''

dharma Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...

'') that competes with that of the

Vedas FIle:Atharva-Veda samhita page 471 illustration.png, upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the ''Atharvaveda''. The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of relig ...

, wherein ''bhakti'' ultimately leads to self-knowledge, salvation (''

moksha ''Moksha'' (; , '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', and ''mukti'', is a term in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, liberation, '' nirvana'', or release. In its soteriological and eschatologic ...

'') and bliss. However the ''Bhagavata Purana'' asserts that the inner nature and outer form of Krishna is identical to the Vedas and that this is what rescues the world from the forces of evil. An oft-quoted verse (1.3.40) is used by some Krishna sects to assert that the text itself is Krishna in literary form.Barbara Holdrege (2015), Bhakti and Embodiment, Routledge, , pages 109–110 The text consists of twelve books (''skandhas'' or

canto The canto () is a principal form of division in medieval and modern long poetry. Etymology and equivalent terms The word ''canto'' is derived from the Italian word for "song" or "singing", which comes from the Latin ''cantus'', "song", from th ...

s) totalling 335 chapters (''adhyayas'') and 18,000 verses. The tenth book, with about 4,000 verses, has been the most popular and widely studied. By daily reading of this supreme scripture, there is no untimely death, disease, epidemic, fear of enemies, etc. and man can attain Bhagwat(god) even in Kaliyug and reach the ultimate salvation.It was the first ''Purana'' to be translated into a European language, as a French translation of a Tamil version appeared in 1788 and introduced many Europeans to Hinduism and 18th-century Hindu culture during the colonial era. The ''Bhagavata Purana'' has been among the most celebrated and popular texts in the Puranic genre, and is, in the opinion of some, of non-dualistic tenor. But, the dualistic school of Madhvacharya has a rich and strong tradition of dualistic interpretation of the Bhagavata, starting from the Bhagavata Taatparya Nirnaya of the Acharya himself and later, commentaries on the commentary.

Nomenclature

*' Bhagavata' (or 'Bhagavatam' or 'Bhagavat',

भागवत) means 'follower or worshipper of

'. **' Bhagavan' (Sanskrit भगवन्) means 'Blessed One', 'God', or 'Lord'.

– the transcendental, primeval Personality of Godhead,

of Vishnu – is directly referred to as 'Bhagavan' throughout this scripture. It is stated in canto 1, chapter 3, verse 28, "kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam" which A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada translates as, "Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead." *' Purana' (Sanskrit पुराण) means 'ancient' or 'old' (or 'old traditional history'). It also means 'complete' and 'completing' in the sense that a Purana 'completes the

'. **'Maha' ( Sanskrit महत्) means 'great', 'large', or 'vast'. *'Srimad' (or 'Srimat', Sanskrit श्रीमत्) means 'radiant', 'holy', 'splendid', or 'glorious', and is an

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an Honorary title (academic), h ...

religious title. **'

Sri Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Assamese, Meitei ( Manipuri), Marathi, Malay (including In ...

' (or 'Shri' or 'Shree', Sanskrit श्री) means 'wealth'.

Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...

– Goddess of Wealth and Vishnu/Krishna's wife – is also referred to as 'Sri'. **'Mad' (or 'Mat', Sanskrit मत्) means 'religion' or 'believed'. **Those with a wealth ('Sri') of religion ('mad') may be honoured with the title of 'radiant', 'holy', 'splendid', or 'glorious' ('Srimad').

Dating

Modern scholarship

Modern scholarship dates its composition to between 500 CE to 1000 CE, but most likely between 800 and 1000 CE. Hardy suggests that the most plausible timeframe for the composition of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa is the 9th or early 10th century. A version of the text existed no later than 1030 CE, when it is mentioned by al Biruni and quoted by Abhinavagupta. The Bhagavata Purana abounds in references to verses of the

, the primary

Upanishads The Upanishads (; , , ) are late Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit texts that "document the transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions" and the emergence of the central religious concepts of Hind ...

, the

Brahma Sutra The ''Brahma Sūtras'' (), also known as the Vedanta Sūtra (Sanskrit: वेदान्त सूत्र), Shariraka Sūtra, and Bhikshu-sūtra, are a Sanskrit text which criticizes the metaphysical dualism of the influential Samkhya philos ...

Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompa ...

school of Hindu philosophy, and the Bhagavad Gita, suggesting that it was composed after these texts. The text contains more details of Krishna's biography than the 3rd- 4th-century ''Harivamsha'' and ''Vishnu Purana'', and is therefore likely to have been composed after these texts, suggesting a chronological range of 500–1000 CE.. Reprinted in Within this range, scholars such as R. C. Hazra date it to the first half of the 6th century CE, Bryant as well as Gupta and Valpey citing epigraphical and archaeological evidence suggest much of the text could be from the 4th to 7th century, while most others place it in the post-

Alvar An alvar is a biological environment based on a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse grassland vegetation. Often flooded in the spring, and affected by drought in midsummer, alvars support a distinctive group of prairie ...

period around the 9th century. Parts of the text use an archaic

Vedic upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed ...

flavour of Sanskrit, which may either suggest that its authors sought to preserve or express reverence for the Vedic tradition, or that some text has an earlier origin. There are two flavors of Krishna stories, one of warrior prince and another of romantic lover, the former composed in more archaic Sanskrit and the later in a different linguistic style, suggesting that the texts may not have been composed by one author or over a short period, but rather grew over time as a compilation of accretions from different hands. The Bhagavata Purana contains apparent references to the South Indian Alvar saints and it makes a ''post factum'' prophecy of the spread of Vishnu worship in

Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

country (BP XI.5.38–40); these facts, along with its emphasis on "emotional Bhakti to Krishna" and the " Advaita philosophy of Sankara", lead many scholars to trace its origins to South India. However, J. A. B. van Buitenen points out that 10th–11th CE South Indian Vaishnava theologians

Yamuna The Yamuna (; ) is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of about on the southwestern slopes of Bandarpunch peaks of the Low ...

and

Ramanuja Ramanuja ('; Middle Tamil: Rāmāṉujam; Classical Sanskrit: Rāmānuja; 1077 – 1157), also known as Ramanujacharya, was an Indian Hindu philosopher, guru and social reformer. He is one of the most important exponents of the Sri Vaishnavi ...

do not refer to Bhagavata Purana in their writings, and this anomaly must be explained before the geographical origins and dating are regarded as definitive. Since the 19th-century, most scholars believe that the Bhagavata Purana was written by a group of learned Brahmin ascetics, probably in South India, who were well versed in Vedic and ancient Indian literature and influenced by the Alvars. Postmodern scholars have suggested alternate theories.

Content and structure

The Bhagavata Purana consists of twelve ''skhandas'' or

s consisting of 18,000 verses of several interconnected, interwoven, and non-linear dialogues, teachings, and explanations espousing

Bhakti Yoga Bhakti yoga (), also called Bhakti marga (, literally the path of '' bhakti''), is a spiritual path or spiritual practice within Hinduism focused on loving devotion towards any personal deity.Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, ...

that go back and forth in time:

Stated authorship and purpose

From the N. P. Jain for Motilal Banarsidass translation: A unique and especial emphasis is placed on fostering transcendental loving devotion to Krishna as the ultimate good, i.e. for its own sake rather than for fruitive results or rewards such as detachment or worldly or heavenly gains, a practice known as

Puranic characteristics

As detailed in the Matsya Mahapurana, all

Puranas Puranas (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
(1995 Editio ...

must cover at least five specific subjects or topics referred to in

as ''Pancha Lakshana'' (literally meaning 'consisting of five characteristics') – in addition to other information including specific deities and the four aims or goals of life. From the K. L. Joshi (editor) translation: The Srimad Bhagavatam adds another five characteristics, expanding this list to ten. The Bhagavata further elaborates on the differences between lesser and greater

Puranas Puranas (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
(1995 Editio ...

possessing five or ten characteristics, respectively.

Manuscripts

According to Hariprasad Gangashankar Shastri, the oldest surviving manuscript dates to c. 1124-25 and is held in the Sampurnananda Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya in Varanasi. Poetic or

artistic license Artistic license (and more general or contextually-specific, derivative terms such as creative license, poetic license, historical license, dramatic license, and narrative license) refers to deviation from fact or form for artistic purposes. It ...

with existing materials is a strong tradition in Indian culture, a '''tradition of several hundred years of linguistic creativity. There are variations of original manuscripts available for each Purana, including the Srimad Bhagavatam. The common manuscript for translations of the Bhagavata Purana – seemingly used by both Swami Prabhupada and

Bibek Debroy Bibek Debroy (25 January 1955 – 1 November 2024) was an Indian economist, who served as the chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. He was also the Chairman of the Finance Ministry's 'Expert Committee for ...

– is the ''Bhāgavatamahāpurāṇam'' a reprint of Khemraj Shri Krishnadas' manuscript.. In regard to variances in Puranic manuscripts, Gregory Bailey states:

Cantos (skandhas)

SB 1.1.3 original Sanskrit:

First Canto

Consisting of 19 chapters, the first canto opens with an invocation to

and the assertion that the Srimad Bhagatavam, compiled by

Vyasa Vyasa (; , ) or Veda Vyasa (, ), also known as Krishna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasa (, ''Vedavyāsa''), is a ''rishi'' (sage) with a prominent role in most Hindu traditions. He is traditionally regarded as the author of the epic Mahabharata, Mah� ...

deva, is sufficient alone to realise God. The overarching narration begins at the onset of

Kali Yuga ''Kali Yuga'' (Devanagari: कलियुग), in Hinduism, is the fourth, shortest, and worst of the four '' yugas'' (world ages) in a '' Yuga cycle'', preceded by '' Dvapara Yuga'' and followed by the next cycle's '' Krita (Satya) Yuga''. I ...

as a dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami (the son of Vyasadeva) and a group of sages headed by

Saunaka Shaunaka (, ) is the name applied to teachers, and to a Shakha of the Atharvaveda. It is especially the name of a celebrated Sanskrit grammarian, author of the , the , the , six Anukramaṇīs (indices) to the Rigveda, and the Vidhāna of the Rig ...

, as they perform a thousand-year sacrifice for Krishna and his devotees in the forest of Naimisaranya. Questioned by the sages, topics covered by Suta Gosvami include the: * Birth of Pariksit – protected in the womb by Krishna – in the aftermath of the devastating

Kurukshetra War The Kurukshetra War (), also called the Mahabharata War, is a war described in the Hindu Indian epic poetry, epic poem ''Mahabharata'', arising from a dynastic struggle between two groups of cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas, for the thr ...

* Appearance and instruction of

Narada Narada (, ), or Narada Muni, is a sage-divinity, famous in Hinduism, Hindu traditions as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is one of the Manasputra, mind-created children of Brahma, the creator ...

to Vyasadeva on the composition of the Srimad Bhagavatam * Meditation and inspiration of Vyasadeva on the western bank of the

Sarasvati river The Sarasvati River () is a Apotheosis, deified myth, mythological Rigvedic rivers, river first mentioned in the Rigveda and later in Vedas, Vedic and post-Vedic texts. It played an important role in the Historical Vedic religion, Vedic religio ...

to compile and revise the Bhagavata * Teaching of the Bhagavata by Vyasadeva to his already-liberated son, Suka Gosvami * Departure and disappearance of Krishna, followed by the signs and onset of Kali Yuga * Retirement of the

Pandava The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, aɳɖɐʋᵊ IAST: Pāṇḍava) is a group name referring to the five legendary brothers, Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, who are central figures of the Hindu epic ''Mahabhara ...

s (including King

Yudhisthira Yudhishthira (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ud̪ʱiʂʈʰiɾᵊ IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira''), also known as Dharmaputra, is the eldest among the five Pandavas, and is also one of the central characters of the anc ...

) and consequent enthronement of Pariksit * Attempts of Pariksit to stem the influence of Kali before being cursed by a

Brahmana The Brahmanas (; Sanskrit: , International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''Brāhmaṇam'') are Vedas, Vedic śruti works attached to the Samhitas (hymns and mantras) of the Rigveda, Rig, Samaveda, Sama, Yajurveda, Yajur, and Athar ...

boy to die within seven days * Renunciation of Pariksit, who decided to fast until death ( Prayopavesa) on the banks of the Ganges in devotion to Krishna * Arrival of sages (including Narada and Bhrgu) and their disciples to Pariksit's fast, followed by Suta Gosvami
SB 1.3.38 original Sanskrit:

Second Canto

Consisting of 10 chapters, the second canto opens with an invocation to

. The second layer of overarching narration begins as a dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

Ganges river The Ganges ( ; in India: Ganga, ; in Bangladesh: Padma, ). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international which goes through India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China." is a trans-boundary rive ...

(narrated by Suta Gosvami to a group of sages headed by

in the forest of Naimisaranya). Questioned by Pariksit, the topics covered by Sukadeva Gosvami include the: * Transcendental, supreme, eternal, and pure nature of Krishna * Universal Virat-Rupa and Maha-Vishnu forms of Krishna, as well as His scheduled avatars with their purposes * Process and laws of creation and annihilation of the universe * God realisation,

, devotional duties, and the need for a spiritual master (

Guru Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...

) *

knowledge, modes of material nature ( gunas),

karma Karma (, from , ; ) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively called ...

, false (i.e. materialistic) ego, and

illusion An illusion is a distortion of the senses, which can reveal how the mind normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. Although illusions distort the human perception of reality, they are generally shared by most people. Illusions may ...

and suffering due to ignorance * Divisions (caste or

varna Varna may refer to: Places Europe *Varna, Bulgaria, a city ** Varna Province ** Varna Municipality ** Gulf of Varna ** Lake Varna **Varna Necropolis * Vahrn, or Varna, a municipality in Italy * Varna (Šabac), a village in Serbia Asia * Var ...

) of society, common religious affiliations, and

faith Faith is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept. In the context of religion, faith is " belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". According to the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, faith has multiple definitions, inc ...

versus

atheism Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the Existence of God, existence of Deity, deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the ...

SB 2.5.35 original Sanskrit:

Third Canto

Consisting of 33 chapters, the third canto continues the dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

Vidura Vidura (), plays a key role in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is described as the prime minister of the Kuru kingdom and is the paternal uncle of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Legend Mandavya's Curse The rishi Mandavya cursed Yam ...

, the sudra incarnation of

Yama Yama (), also known as Kāla and Dharmarāja, is the Hindu god of death and justice, responsible for the dispensation of law and punishment of sinners in his abode, Naraka. He is often identified with Dharmadeva, the personification of ''Dharm ...

and devotee of

, is the main protagonist narrated. After being thrown out of his home by King

Dhritarashtra Dhritarashtra () was a ruler of the ancient Kuru kingdom, featured as a central character in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is also attested in the ''Yajurveda'', where he is acknowledged as the son of King Vichitravirya. According to th ...

(his older half-brother) for admonishing the Kaurava's ignoble behaviour towards the

s, Vidura went on a

pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...

where he met other devotees of Krishna such as

Uddhava Uddhava () is a character from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, described to be the friend and counsellor of Krishna. He plays a significant role in the Bhagavata Purana, being taught the processes of yoga and bhakti directly by Krishna. The principl ...

and the sage

Maitreya Maitreya (Sanskrit) or Metteyya (Pali), is a bodhisattva who is regarded as the future Buddhahood, Buddha of this world in all schools of Buddhism, prophesied to become Maitreya Buddha or Metteyya Buddha.Williams, Paul. ''Mahayana Buddhism: Th ...

; their dialogues form a third layer of narration. Topics covered by Sukadeva Gosvami, Uddhava, and Maitreya include the: * Remembrance, pastimes, qualities, and kingdom (

Vaikuntha Vaikuntha (), also called Vishnuloka (), and Tirunatu (Tirunāṭu) in Tamil language, Tamil, is the abode of Vishnu, the Parabrahman , supreme deity in the Vaishnavism, Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism,Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism' ( ...

) of Krishna * Universal – Virat-Rupa – form of

to animate dormant material energy for creation (with

Kali Kali (; , ), also called Kalika, is a major goddess in Hinduism, primarily associated with time, death and destruction. Kali is also connected with transcendental knowledge and is the first of the ten Mahavidyas, a group of goddesses who p ...

, explicitly stated to represent His external energy) * Emergence of

Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...

from Garbhodakasayi Vishnu; Brahma's prayers to

, creation of living beings, and manifestation of the

* Curse of the Four Kamaras on Jaya and Vijaya and their consequent incarnations as the demons Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu * Appearance of the

Varaha Varaha (, , "boar") is the avatar of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu, in the form of a wild boar, boar. Varaha is generally listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu. In legend, when the demon Hiranyaksha steals ...

avatar to lift the Earth out of the depths of the Cosmic Ocean ( Garbhodakasayi) and destroy Hiranyaksa * Appearance of the Kapila avatar to expound Sankya philosophy and devotional service (

) for Krishna * Principles of material nature, divisions of creation, and calculation of time SB 3.25.25 original Sanskrit:

Fourth Canto

Consisting of 31 chapters, the fourth canto continues the dialogues of Sukadeva Gosvami,

, and

. There are additional layers of dialogue, such as between the sage-avatar

and King Pracinabharhisat (as narrated by Maitreya to

). Focusing on the female descendants of

Svayambhuva Manu Svayambhuva Manu () is the first of the fourteen Manus, the first man of a Yuga in Hindu cosmogony. He is the manasaputra (mind-born son) of Brahma and husband of Shatarupa, the first woman.Genealogies Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...

of the daughters of

Svayambhuva Manu Svayambhuva Manu () is the first of the fourteen Manus, the first man of a Yuga in Hindu cosmogony. He is the manasaputra (mind-born son) of Brahma and husband of Shatarupa, the first woman.Dhruva Dhruva (Sanskrit: ध्रुव, , Literal translation, lit. "''unshakeable, immovable, fixed or eternal"'') was an Asceticism, ascetic devotee of Vishnu mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana. The Sanskrit term ''dhruva na ...

(grandson of

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

, self-immolation of Sati (wife of Shiva and daughter of Daksa), and attack by Shiva on Daksa's ritual * Tapasya and liberation of

Dhruva Dhruva (Sanskrit: ध्रुव, , Literal translation, lit. "''unshakeable, immovable, fixed or eternal"'') was an Asceticism, ascetic devotee of Vishnu mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana. The Sanskrit term ''dhruva na ...

, including advice from Narada, his vision of

, and battles between Dhruva and the Yaksas * Killing of the tyrant-king Vena by

Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

s before the appearance of the king

Prthu Prithu (Sanskrit: पृथु, ''Pṛthu'', lit. "large, great, important, abundant") is a sovereign (Chakravarti (Sanskrit term), chakravarti), featured in the Puranas. According to Hinduism, he is an avatar (incarnation) of the preserver g ...

to restore abundance of the Earth *

Allegorical As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory throughou ...

story, descriptions, and characteristics of King Puranjana, who was reborn as a woman due to thinking of his wife when he died * Activities of the Pracetas, including meeting with Shiva, instruction from Narada, and ultimate liberation * Qualities of

Vaishnava Vaishnavism () ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major Hindu traditions, that considers Vishnu as the sole supreme being leading all other Hindu deities, that is, '' Mahavishnu''. It is one of the major Hindu denominations along wit ...

devotion (

), the soul ( atman), the super-soul (

paramatman ''Paramatman'' (Sanskrit: परमात्मन्, IAST: Paramātman) or ''Paramātmā'' is the absolute '' Atman'', or supreme Self, in various philosophies such as the Vedanta and Yoga schools in Hindu theology, as well as other Indian r ...

), and materialistic life
SB 4.16.17 original Sanskrit:

Fifth Canto

Consisting of 26 chapters, the fifth canto focuses on the dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

. Notable additional layers of dialogue are between the avatar Rsabha and his sons, and between Bharata and King Rahugana (the former was perceived as a fool and made to carry the latter's

palanquin The litter is a class of wheelless vehicles, a type of human-powered transport, for the transport of people. Smaller litters may take the form of open chairs or beds carried by two or more carriers, some being enclosed for protection from the el ...

). Topics covered include the: * Appearance, life, and teachings of the publicly abused avatar Rsabha, the first

Tirthankara In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (; ) is a saviour and supreme preacher of the ''Dharma (Jainism), dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a ''Tirtha (Jainism), tirtha'', a fordable passage across ''Saṃsā ...

(spiritual teacher) of

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...

* Appearance of

Hayagriva Hayagriva ( IAST , ) is a Hindus, Hindu deity, the horse-headed avatar of Vishnu. The purpose of this incarnation was to slay a Danava (Hinduism), danava also named Hayagriva (A descendant of Kashyapa and Danu), who had the head of a horse a ...

to return vedic knowledge to Brahma *Activities, character, teachings, and liberation of King Bharata (incarnated as a deer and then a supposed

idiot An idiot, in modern use, is a stupid or foolish person. "Idiot" was formerly a technical term in legal and psychiatric contexts for some kinds of profound intellectual disability where the mental age is two years or less, and the person cannot ...

) * Activities and descendants of King Priyavrata, whose chariot wheels created the seven oceans and islands (i.e. continents) * Descriptions of the universe,

sun The Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System. It is a massive, nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core, radiating the energy from its surface mainly as visible light a ...

, orbits of the planets, and the heavenly and hellish planets * Flow of the Ganges and expansion of

Narayana Narayana (, ) is one of the forms and epithets of Vishnu. In this form, the deity is depicted in yogic slumber under the celestial waters, symbolising the masculine principle and associated with his role of creation. He is also known as Pu ...

as Vasudeva (

), Sankarsana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha * Glories of Ananta / Sankarsana /

Shesha Shesha (), also known by his epithets Sheshanaga () and Adishesha (), is a serpentine demigod ( naga) and king of the serpents ( Nagaraja), as well as a primordial being of creation in Hinduism. In the Puranas, Shesha is said to hold all the ...

/ Tamasi SB 5.5.1 original Sanskrit:

Sixth Canto

Consisting of 19 chapters, the sixth canto continues with the dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

. A notable additional layer of dialogue is between

and his messengers (called the ''Yamadutas''). With the main focus on the battles of the demon-devotee Vrtrasura and his armies against the demigods led by

Indra Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes Indra is the m ...

, as well as the life of King Citraketu, topics covered include the: * Life of Ajamila, a

that lost liberation due to sex-attraction but was liberated due to calling his son –

– upon death * Instructions of Yamaraja to his messengers about justice, punishment, chanting, Vishnu's messengers, and surrender (

Bhakti ''Bhakti'' (; Pali: ''bhatti'') is a term common in Indian religions which means attachment, fondness for, devotion to, trust, homage, worship, piety, faith, or love.See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. In Indian religions, it ...

) to Krishna * Curse of Daksa on

, and a

of the daughters of Daksa * Offence of

to Brhaspati, the appearance of Vrtrasura to battle the demigods, their prayers to

and Vrtrasura's death * Story of King Chitraketu, the murder of his son, instruction from

and

Angiras Angiras ( (stem), , , nominative singular , , , rendered Angirā in Hindi) was a Vedic rishi (sage) of Hinduism. He is described in the ''Rigveda'' as a teacher of divine knowledge, a mediator between men and gods, as well as stated in othe ...

, meeting with Krishna, and curse by

Parvati Parvati (, , IPA: /Sanskrit phonology, pɑɾʋət̪iː/), also known as Uma (, , IPA: Sanskrit phonology, /ʊmɑː/) and Gauri (, , IPA: /Sanskrit phonology, gə͡ʊɾiː/), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the Devi, ...

* Vow of

Diti Diti () is a daughter of the ''Prajapati'' Daksha in Hinduism. She is a wife of the sage Kashyapa and the mother of the demonic race Daityas and the divine group of Marutas. Legend According to the '' Puranic'' scriptures, Diti is one of ...

to kill Indra, her embryo being cut into 49 pieces by Indra but saved by

, and her purification through devotion * Performance of the Pumsavana ceremony for pregnancy with prayers to Vishnu and

(Goddess of Wealth and Fortune) SB 6.3.13 original Sanskrit:

Seventh Canto

Consisting of 15 chapters, the seventh canto continues with the dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

. A notable additional layer of dialogue is between

and

Yudhishthira Yudhishthira (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, ud̪ʱiʂʈʰiɾᵊ IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira''), also known as Dharmaputra, is the eldest among the five Pandavas, and is also one of the central characters of the ancient Indian epic ''Ma ...

about

Prahlada Prahlada () is an asura king in Hindu scriptures. He is known for his staunch devotion to the preserver deity, Vishnu. He appears in the narrative of Narasimha, the lion avatara of Vishnu, who rescues Prahlada by disimboweling and killing hi ...

, the devotee-son of the demon-King Hiranyakasipu (brother of Hiranyaksa, destroyed by the

avatar in the third canto; the demonic brothers are incarnations of Jaya and Vijaya). Prahlada, protected by

, survives multiple attempts to kill him until the arrival of the Nrsimha avatar to destroy his father, who could not be killed by any weapon, by any man or beast, or in the water, air, or on land. Topics covered include the: * Vow of demon-King Hiranyakasipu to destroy

, his austerities to become invincible, and conquering of the entire universe * Birth, abuse, and teachings of the devotee

, son of Hiranyakasipu, protected from death by Krishna * Arrival of the Nrsimha avatar to destroy Hiranyakasipu, later pacified by the prayers of Prahlada * Perfect society in the form of the four social and four spiritual classes or orders * Behaviour of a good person, ideal family life, and instructions to be civilised * Exposition that the absolute truth is a person –

– who is the master and controller of all * Previous incarnations of

, and that Krishna lived with the

s like an ordinary human being SB 7.14.9 original Sanskrit:

Eighth Canto

Consisting of 24 chapters, the eighth canto continues the dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

. A notable additional layer of dialogue is between the

Vamana Vamana (, ) also known as Trivikrama (), Urukrama (), Upendra (), Dadhivamana (, ), and Balibandhana (), is an Dashavatara, avatar of the Hinduism, Hindu deity Vishnu. He is the fifth avatar of Vishnu and the first Dashavatara in the Treta ...

avatar and King Bali about the demon-King Hiranyakasipu. Topics covered include the: * Details and ages of the four Manus (Svayambhuva, Svarocisa, Uttama, and Tamasa), and of the future Manus * Elephant Gajendra, rescued from

Makara Makara () is a legendary sea-creature in Hindu mythology. In Hindu astrology, Makara is equivalent to the Zodiac sign Capricorn. Makara appears as the vahana (vehicle) of the river goddess Ganga, Narmada, and of the god of the ocean, Varun ...

the crocodile by

riding his mount

Garuda Garuda (; ; Vedic Sanskrit: , ) is a Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths. Garuda is also the half-brother of the D ...

, after prayers of surrender * Battles between the

demigod A demigod is a part-human and part-divine offspring of a deity and a human, or a human or non-human creature that is accorded divine status after death, or someone who has attained the "divine spark" (divine illumination). An immortality, immor ...

s and the

demons A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in folklore, mythology, religion, occultism, and literature; these beliefs are reflected in media including fiction, comics, film, t ...

, the truce brokered by

, and churning of the ocean of milk by both factions * Appearance of the Kurma, Dhanvantari,

Mohini Mohini (Sanskrit: मोहिनी, ') is the Hindu goddess of enchantment. She is the only female avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. She is portrayed as a ''femme fatale'', an enchantress, who maddens lovers and demons, sometimes leading them ...

, and Ajita avatars (and

) during the churning of the ocean of milk * Second appearance of Mohini to beguile

* Annihilation of the demons by

* Appearance of the

avatar to take back the three worlds from King Bali in three footsteps, and the surrender of Bali to Him * Appearance of the

Matsya Matsya () is the fish avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Often described as the first of Vishnu's Dashavatara, ten primary avatars, Matsya is described to have rescued the first man, Manu (Hinduism), Manu, from a great deluge. Matsya may be dep ...

avatar to save devotee-King Satyavrata from the

flood A flood is an overflow of water (list of non-water floods, or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are of significant con ...

(during the time of Hiranyaksa in the third canto) SB 8.5.30 original Sanskrit: In 7th chapter of eighth canto mentioned

is also non different from

Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the ...

. He is supreme ruler of the universe and the eternal refugee of all living beings. Gita Press:

Ninth Canto

Consisting of 24 chapters, the ninth canto continues the dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

. With no notable additional layers of dialogue, the primary focus is upon the male

dynasties A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A dynasty may also be referred to as a "house", "family" or "clan", among others. Historians ...

of various ruling figures (the female sides are covered in the fourth canto). Topics covered include the: * Pastimes of the

Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...

avatar that destroyed the demon-King

Ravana According to the Mahakavya, Hindu epic, ''Ramayana'', Ravana was a kingJustin W. Henry, ''Ravana's Kingdom: The Ramayana and Sri Lankan History from Below'', Oxford University Press, p.3 of the island of Lanka, in which he is the chief antag ...

(and

Kumbhakarna Kumbhakarna (Sanskrit: कुम्भकर्ण, lit. ''pot-eared'') is a powerful rakshasa and younger brother of Ravana from the Hinduism, Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Despite his gigantic size and appetite, he is described as a virtuous c ...

; incarnations of Jaya and Vijaya) * Appearance of the

Parashurama Parashurama (), also referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Virarama, is the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism. Hindu tradition holds him to be the destroyer of the evil on Earth. According t ...

avatar to repeatedly destroy the corrupt, Godless ruling (

Kshatriya Kshatriya () (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority"; also called Rajanya) is one of the four varnas (social orders) of Hindu society and is associated with the warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...

) class *

Genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kin ...

and downfall of Saubhari Muni due to sex-desire (after seeing fish copulate), and his liberation through performing austerities *Story of King Yayati, cursed to suffer old age; after passing the curse to his son, he learned the futility of sense-pleasure and achieved liberation * Story of King Pururava, beguiled by the

Apsara Apsaras (, , Khmer language, Khmer: អប្សរា are a class of celestial beings in Hinduism, Hindu and Culture of Buddhism, Buddhist culture. They were originally a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters, but, later play ...

Urvasi, until he sated his lusty desires with a ceremonial fire * Genealogies of the sons of

Svayambhuva Manu Svayambhuva Manu () is the first of the fourteen Manus, the first man of a Yuga in Hindu cosmogony. He is the manasaputra (mind-born son) of Brahma and husband of Shatarupa, the first woman.Mandhata Mandhata, also called Omkareshwar or Shivapuri and ancient Mahishmati, capital of Avanti Mahajanpada is a riverine island in the Narmada River in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is situated on the south ...

, Amsuman, Yayati, Bharata, Ajamidha, Puru, and Pururava *Genealogy of

, and brief descriptions of His beauty and pastimes SB 9.24.59.60 original Sanskrit:

Tenth Canto

Consisting of 90 chapters, the tenth canto continues the dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

. Notable additional layers of dialogue all involve the '' lila'' (divine play) of the supreme and transcendental

avatar. Thus focusing on the appearance and pastimes of Krishna, topics covered include the: * Imprisonment of Krishna's parents ( Vasudeva Anakadundubhi and

Devaki Devaki (Sanskrit: देवकी, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''Devakī'') is a character in Hindu texts, Hindu literature, most noted for being the mother of the god Krishna. She is one of the seven daughters of ...

), the murder of His siblings, and attempted murder of baby Krishna by King

Kamsa Kamsa (, ) was the tyrant ruler of the Vrishni kingdom, with its capital at Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura. He is variously described in Hindu texts, Hindu literature as either a human or an asura; The Puranas describe him as an asura, while ...

* Fostering of Krishna and

Balarama Balarama (, ) is a Hindu god, and the elder brother of Krishna. He is particularly significant in the Jagannath tradition, as one of the triad deities. He is also known as Haladhara, Halayudha, Baladeva, Balabhadra, and Sankarshana. The fir ...

by Nanda and

Yashoda Yashoda (, ) is the foster-mother of Krishna and the wife of Nanda. She is described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the wife of Nanda, the chieftain of Gokul, and the sister of Rohini. According to the Bhagavata Purana, Krishna was bo ...

( Gopas, a tribe of cowherds); Yashoda saw the universal form in boy-Krishna's mouth * Attempts on baby and boy-Krishna's life by various demons, mostly sent by Kamsa (e.g.

Putana In Hinduism, Pūtanā () is a Rakshasa, rakshasi (demoness), who was killed by the infant-god Krishna. Putana disguises as a young, beautiful woman and tries to kill the god by breast-feeding poisoned milk; however Krishna sucks her milk as well ...

, Trnavarta,

Aghasura Aghasura (Sanskrit: अघासुर) is an asura featured in Hindu texts, Hindu literature, most notably in the Bhagavata Purana. He was one of Kamsa's generals, and the elder brother of the demoness Putana and Bakasura (crane demon), Bakasura. ...

Pralamba Pralamba is an asura killed by Balarama in Hindu mythology. According to the pertinent legend, the asura assumed the guise of a cowherd and attempted to join Krishna and Balarama in a game of jumping, whose conditions dictated that the loser c ...

, Kesi, etc.) * Chastisement of

Kaliya Kaliya ( IAST: Kāliya, Devanagari: कालिय), in Hindu traditions, was a venomous Nāga living in the Yamunā river, in Vṛndāvana. The water of the Yamunā for four leagues all around him boiled and bubbled with poison. No bir ...

, swallowing of a forest fire, lifting of Govardhana Hill, stealing of Gopis' clothes, and the Rasa dance * Raas Leela is described very thoroughly and is shown in great detail in the Tenth Canto. *Defeat of numerous demonic foes (e.g.

Jarasandha Jarasandha () is a king featured in the Hindu Mythology. He is the powerful monarch of Magadha, and a minor antagonist in Mahabharata. He is the son of the king Brihadratha, the founder of the Barhadratha dynasty of Magadha. According to popu ...

, Kalayavana, Narakasura, Paundraka, etc.) to diminish the burden of the Earth * Marriages to over 16,000 wives (and children with each), establishment of Dvaraka, return of the Syamantaka Jewel, and washing of Narada's feet *Defeat of

Banasura Bana, also referred to as Banasura (), is an asura king in Hindu mythology, ruling from the city of Śoṇitapura. He is described to be the son of Mahabali. His tale of battling Krishna is described in the Bhagavata Purana. Legend A mighty asur ...

and Shiva, daily activities, blessing of

Sudama Sudama (), also known as Kuchela (), is a childhood friend of the Hindu deity Krishna. The story of his visit to Dvaraka to meet his friend is featured in the Bhagavata Purana. In their legend, Sudama and Krishna study together as children ...

, blessing of His devotees, saving of

from Vrkasura, and summary of glories SB 10.90.50 original Sanskrit:

Study

The largest canto with 4,000 verses, the tenth canto is also the most popular and widely studied part of the Bhagavata. It has also been translated, commented on, and published separately from the rest of the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Eleventh Canto

Consisting of 31 chapters, the eleventh canto continues the dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

. Notable additional layers of dialogue are between

and

Vasudeva Vasudeva (; Sanskrit: वसुदेव ), also called Anakadundubhi (''anakas'' and ''dundubhis'' both refer to ''drums'', after the musicians who played these instruments at the time of his birth), is the father of the Hindu deities Krishna ( ...

, and between

and

(and in turn, other dialogues such as that between the Hamsa (swan) avatar and

). Topics covered include the: * Curse and destruction of the Yadu Dynasty (through intoxicated in-fighting) at Prabhasa to relieve the burden of the Earth * Appearance of the Hamsa (swan) avatar to answer the questions of the sons of

* Discourse of

about the instruction of the '9 Yogendras' to King Nimi about

for

* Final teachings of Krishna to Uddhava at Dvaraka (e.g. the story of a young

avadhuta narrating his 24 gurus to King

Yadu This is a list of ancient Indo-Aryan peoples and tribes that are mentioned in the literature of Indian religions. From the second or first millennium BCE, ancient Indo-Aryan peoples and tribes turned into most of the population in the north ...

) * Disappearance of Krishna after being shot in the foot by the hunter, Jara * Flood and destruction of Dvarka
SB 11.7.33–35 original Sanskrit:

The Uddhava or Hamsa Gita

Containing the final teachings of Krishna to His devotee

, the eleventh canto is also referred to as the 'Uddhava Gita' or ' Hamsa Gita'. Like the tenth canto, it has also been translated and published separately, usually as a companion or 'sequel' to the

Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita (; ), often referred to as the Gita (), is a Hindu texts, Hindu scripture, dated to the second or first century BCE, which forms part of the Hindu epic, epic poem Mahabharata. The Gita is a synthesis of various strands of Ind ...

. 'Hamsa' means 'swan' or 'spirit', and: * Is the name of the single class or order of society in

Satya Yuga ''Satya Yuga'' ( ''Krita Yuga'', IAST: ''Kṛta-yuga''), in Hinduism, is the first and best of the four '' yugas'' (world ages) in a '' Yuga Cycle'', preceded by '' Kali Yuga'' of the previous cycle and followed by '' Treta Yuga''. ''Satya Yug ...

(as compared to four in Kali Yuga), the first and purest of the four cyclical

yuga A ''yuga'', in Hinduism, is generally used to indicate an age of time. In the ''Rigveda'', a ''yuga'' refers to generations, a period of time (whether long or short), or a yoke (joining of two things). In the ''Mahabharata'', the words ''yuga' ...

s * Symbolises

(Ultimate Truth, Self, or Atman) in Hinduism * Is the mount ridden by

* Is the name of the tenth (i.e. swan) avatar of

that taught the

(hence the symbolism of the swan being ridden by Brahma as a mount).

Twelfth Canto

Consisting of 13 chapters, the twelfth and final canto completes the dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and Pariksit on the banks of the

, and ends with the overarching dialogue between Sukadeva Gosvami and the group of sages led by

, at the forest of Naimisaranya. Focusing on prophecies and signs of

, topics covered in this canto include the: * Degradation of rulers as liars and plunderers, and the symptoms of the age of Kali (e.g. atheism, political intrigue, low character of royals, etc.) * A list of the future rulers of the world, and the way they attained downfall * Final instructions to and death of Pariksit due to his curse (bitten by a poisonous serpent Takshaka) * Prayers of sage Markandeya to Nara-Narayana, resistance to

Kamadeva Kamadeva (, ), also known as Kama, Manmatha, and Madana is the Deva (Hinduism), Hindu god of Eroticism, erotic love, carnal desire, attraction, pleasure and beauty, as well as the personification of the concept of ''kāma''. He is depicted as a ...

sent by

to break his vows, and glorification by

and Uma * Four categories of universal annihilation * Appearance of the

Kalki Kalki (), also called Kalkin, is the prophesied tenth and final incarnation of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu. According to Vaishnavism, Vaishnava cosmology, Kalki is destined to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga, the last of the four ages i ...

avatar to destroy evil at the end of Kali Yuga * Description of the lesser and greater

Puranas Puranas (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
(1995 Editio ...

, and the eighteen major Puranas * Description of the Mahapurusa * Summary and glories of the Srimad Bhagavatam SB 12.13.11–12 original Sanskrit:

Philosophy

While

and

Dvaita Vedanta Dvaita Vedanta (); (originally known as Tattvavada; IAST: ''Tattvavāda''), is a sub-school in the Vedanta tradition of Hindu philosophy. The term Tattvavada literally means "arguments from a realist viewpoint". The Tattvavada (Dvaita) Vedant ...

are the prominent teachings, states T. S. Rukmani, various passages show a synthesis that also includes

Samkhya Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and '' Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind a ...

Yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...

, and Advaita Vedanta.

Bhakti

Cutler states the Bhagavata Purana is among the most important texts on

, presenting a fully developed teaching that originated with the Bhagavad Gita. Bryant states that while classical yoga attempts to shut down the mind and senses, Bhakti Yoga in the Bhagavata teaches that the mind is transformed by filling it with thoughts of Krishna. Matchett states that in addition to various

didactic Didacticism is a philosophy that emphasises instructional and informative qualities in literature, art, and design. In art, design, architecture, and landscape, didacticism is a conceptual approach that is driven by the urgent need to explain. ...

philosophical passages the Bhagavata also describes one of the activities that can lead to liberation (''

'') as listening to, reflecting on the stories of, and sharing devotion for

with others. Bhakti is depicted in the

Purana Puranas (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
(1995 Editio ...

, adds Matchett, as both an overpowering emotion as well as a way of life that is rational and deliberately cultivated.

Samkhya

Surendranath Dasgupta Surendranath Dasgupta (18 October 1887 – 18 December 1952) was an Indian scholar of Sanskrit and Indian philosophy. Family and education Surendranath Dasgupta was born to a Vaidya family in Kushtia, Bengal (now in Bangladesh), on Sunday, ...

describes the theistic

philosophy taught by Kapila in the Bhagavata as the dominant philosophy in the text. Sheridan points out that in the Third Canto, Kapila is described as an avatar of

, born as the son of the

Prajapati Prajapati (, ) is a Vedas, Vedic deity of Hinduism. He is later identified with Brahma, the creator god. Prajapati is a form of the creator-god Brahma, but the name is also the name of many different gods, in many Hindu scriptures, ranging f ...

Kardama, in order to share the knowledge of self-realization and liberation with his mother, Devahuti; in the Eleventh Canto,

also teaches Samkhya to

, describing the world as an illusion, and the individual as dreaming, even while in the waking state. Krishna expounds Samhkhya and Yoga as the way of overcoming the dream, with the goal being Krishna Himself. Sheridan also states that the treatment of Samkhya in the Bhagavata is also changed by its emphasis on devotion, as does Dasgupta, adding it is somewhat different from other classical

texts.

Advaita

Kumar Das and Sheridan state that the Bhagavata frequently discusses a distinctly advaitic or non-dualistic philosophy of Shankara. Rukmani adds that the concept of

is explained as ''Ekatva'' (Oneness) and ''Sayujya'' (Absorption, intimate union), wherein one is completely lost in Brahman (Self, Supreme Being, one's true nature). This, states Rukmani, is proclamation of a 'return of the individual soul to the Absolute and its merging into the Absolute', which is unmistakably advaitic. The Bhagavata Purana is also stated to parallel the non-duality of Adi Shankara by Sheridan. As an example: Scholars describe this philosophy as built on the foundation of non-dualism in the

, and term it as "Advaitic Theism". This term combines the seemingly contradictory beliefs of a personal God that can be worshiped with a God that is immanent in creation and in one's own self. God in this philosophy is within and is not different from the individual self, states Sheridan, and transcends the limitations of specificity and temporality. Sheridan also describes Advaitic Theism as a "both/and" solution for the questions of whether God is transcendent or

immanent The doctrine or theory of immanence holds that the divine encompasses or is manifested in the material world. It is held by some philosophical and metaphysical theories of divine presence. Immanence is usually applied in monotheistic, pantheist ...

, and credits the Bhāgavata with a 'truly creative religious moment' for introducing this philosophy. The text suggests that God

and the soul ( atman) in all beings is one in quality (nirguna). Bryant states that the

monism Monism attributes oneness or singleness () to a concept, such as to existence. Various kinds of monism can be distinguished: * Priority monism states that all existing things go back to a source that is distinct from them; e.g., in Neoplatonis ...

in Bhagavata Purana is certainly built on

foundations, but not exactly the same as the

of Adi Shankara. The Bhagavata asserts, according to Bryant, that the empirical and the spiritual universe are both metaphysical realities, and manifestations of the same Oneness, just like heat and light are "real but different" manifestations of sunlight.Edwin Bryant (2004), Krishna: The Beautiful Legend of God: Srimad Bhagavata Purana Book X, Penguin, , pages 43–48 Bryant notes that the tenth book of the Bhagavata does not, as is conventional for non-dualist schools, understand Krishna's form to be a "secondary derivation," which can be subsumed within the impersonal absolute. Rather than describe Brahman to be ultimately formless, the tenth book ascribes an "eternal personal element" to Brahman.

Dharma

Kurmas Das states the Bhagavata Purana conceptualizes a form of

Dharma Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...

that competes with that of the

, suggesting that Bhakti ultimately leads to Self-knowledge,

Moksha ''Moksha'' (; , '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', and ''mukti'', is a term in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, liberation, '' nirvana'', or release. In its soteriological and eschatologic ...

(salvation) and bliss. The earliest mention of

is found in the

Shvetashvatara Upanishad The ''Shvetashvatara Upanishad'' (, ) is an ancient Sanskrit text embedded in the Yajurveda. It is listed as number 14 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads. The Upanishad contains 113 mantras or verses in six chapters.Robert Hume (1921)Shveta ...

verse 6.23, but scholars such as

Max Muller Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE) * Max (gorilla) ( ...

state that the word Bhakti appears only once in this

Upanishad The Upanishads (; , , ) are late Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit texts that "document the transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions" and the emergence of the central religious concepts of Hind ...

; and that being in one last verse of the epilogue it could be a later addition, and that the context suggests that it is a

panentheistic Panentheism (; "all in God", from the Greek , and ) is the belief that the divine intersects every part of the universe and also extends beyond space and time. The term was coined by the German philosopher Karl Krause in 1828 (after reviewin ...

idea and not

theistic Theism is broadly defined as the belief in the existence of at least one deity. In common parlance, or when contrasted with '' deism'', the term often describes the philosophical conception of God that is found in classical theism—or the co ...

.Max Muller
The Shvetashvatara Upanishad
Oxford University Press, pages xxxiv and xxxviiPaul Carus, , pages 514–515 Scholarly consensus sees bhakti as a post-Vedic movement that developed primarily during the

Puranas Puranas (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
(1995 Editio ...

era of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

n history. The Bhagavata Purana develops the Bhakti concept more elaborately, states Cutler, proposing "worship without ulterior motive and with kind disposition towards all" as Dharma. T.R. Sharma states the text includes in its scope intellectual and emotional devotion as well as Advaita Vedanta ideas. The text does not subscribe, states Gupta and Valpey, to context-less "categorical notions of justice or morality", but suggests that "Dharma depends on context". They add that in a positive or neutral context, ethics and moral behavior must be adhered to; and when persistently persecuted by evil, anything that reduces the strength of the "evil and poisonous circumstances" is good. That which is motivated by, furthers, and enables bhakti is the golden standard of Dharma.

Yoga

Sarma states that the Bhagavata Purana describes all steps of yoga practice, and characterizes yoga as

, asserting that the most important aspect is the spiritual goal.Rāma Karaṇa Śarmā (1993), Researches in Indian and Buddhist Philosophy, Motilal Barnarsidass, , pages 218–221 According to Sarma and Rukmani, the text dedicates numerous chapters to yoga, such as Canto 10 (chapter 11), which begins with a declaration that

Siddhi In Indian religions, (Sanskrit: '; fulfillment, accomplishment) are material, paranormal, supernatural, or otherwise magical powers, abilities, and attainments that are the products of Yoga, yogic advancement through sādhanās such as medit ...

results from concentrating one's mind on

, adding this substitutes the concept of a "personal god" in the Yogasutras of Patanjali, and contrasts with Patanjali's view that Siddhi is considered powerful but an obstacle to

Samadhi Statue of a meditating Rishikesh.html" ;"title="Shiva, Rishikesh">Shiva, Rishikesh ''Samādhi'' (Pali and ), in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, is a state of meditative consciousness. In many Indian religious traditions, the cultivati ...

. In other chapters of the text, Rukmani states, Śuka describes different meditations on aspects of

, in a way that is similar to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. However, adds Bryant, the Bhagavata Purana recommends the object of concentration as

, thus folding in yoga as a form of bhakti and the "union with the divine". Bryant describes the synthesis of ideas in Bhagavata Purana as: Sheridan as well as Pintchman affirm Bryant's view, adding that the Vedantic view emphasized in the Bhagavata is non-dualist, as described within a reality of plural forms.Tracy Pintchman (1994), The rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition, State University of New York Press, , pages 132–134

Maya

In Vedanta, ''Maya'' is frequently depicted as a deceptive or deluding energy. Conversely, the Bhagavata Purana presents ''Maya'' as divine energy through which Krishna manifests the material universe, including its elements, universes, bodies, senses, and minds, contributing to the richness and diversity of the phenomenal world. This process is not just entrapment but also a path to liberation for beings caught in the cycle of birth and death. Maya's illusionary powers, though binding individuals to temporal existence, ultimately facilitate their spiritual growth and release.

Suffering

In explaining suffering, the Bhagavata Purana acknowledges karma as a central principle, where actions in past lives influence current and future existences, shaping one's destiny and experiences in subsequent lifetimes. However, it also critiques the adequacy of karma in fully explaining suffering and explores time (''kala'') as a significant factor in suffering. Time, personified by

Sudarshana Chakra The Sudarshana Chakra (, ) is a divine discus, attributed to Vishnu in the Hindu scriptures. The Sudarshana Chakra is generally portrayed on the right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu, who also holds the Panchajanya (conch), the Kaumodak ...

, is shown as an unstoppable force that brings both end and renewal, acting indiscriminately upon all beings. Despite time's overwhelming power, the text suggests that sincere devotion (''bhakti'') to God and surrender to the divine can enable devout souls to overcome the influence of time and karma, ultimately leading to spiritual liberation (''moksha'').

Lila

The Bhagavata Purana argues that the play of God (''lila'') is central to understanding his actions in the world. Despite having everything and being able to make his wishes reality, Krishna engages in various activities and interactions with devotees out of joy and divine play, rather than out of any necessity or compulsion (SB 1.10.24). By participating in Krishna's lila, individuals can transcend the limitations and suffering of the material world and ultimately achieve liberation from time's constraints.

Significance

The source of many popular stories of Krishna's pastimes for centuries in the

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...

, the Bhagavata Purana is widely recognized as the best-known and most influential of the ''

Puranas Puranas (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
(1995 Editio ...

,'' and as a part of

literature ''(''the Puranas,

Itihasa In Hinduism, Itihasa-Purana, also called the fifth Veda, refers to the traditional accounts of cosmogeny, myths, royal genealogies of the lunar dynasty and solar dynasty, and legendary past events, as narrated in the ''Itihasa'' (Mahabhara ...

epics, and

) is referred to as the " Fifth Veda". It is important in Indian religious literature for its emphasis on the practice of devotion compared to the more theoretical approach of the Bhagavad Gita, for challenging the ritualism of the

, and for its extended description of a God in human form.

Relation to other texts

The Bhagavata Purana aligns itself with canonical texts like

Brahma Sutras The ''Brahma Sūtras'' (), also known as the Vedanta Sūtra (Sanskrit: वेदान्त सूत्र), Shariraka Sūtra, and Bhikshu-sūtra, are a Sanskrit text which criticizes the metaphysical dualism of the influential Samkhya philos ...

and

Rigveda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' (, , from wikt:ऋच्, ऋच्, "praise" and wikt:वेद, वेद, "knowledge") is an ancient Indian Miscellany, collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canoni ...

by echoing their verses at various points throughout its narrative. It claims equality with the Vedas and reinterprets their themes to emphasize the supremacy of Krishna. It transforms the descriptions of Vishnu's deeds found in the Vishnu Sukta into narratives centered around Krishna's actions (verse 10.51.38). The Bhagavata Purana does not directly reference the Bhagavad Gita, which is part of the Mahabharata. Instead, it includes the teachings similar to those found in the Bhagavad Gita in the form of dialogues between Krishna and Uddhava in Canto 11.

Hindu Festivals

The stories in the Bhagavata Purana are also the legends quoted by one generation to the next in Vaishnavism, during annual festivals such as

Holi Holi () is a major Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love and Spring.The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) p. 874 "Holi /'həʊli:/ noun a Hindu spring festival ...".Yudit Greenberg, Encyclopedia of Love in World ...

and

Diwali Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual v ...

. The

International Society for Krishna Consciousness The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement, is a religious organization that follows the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. It was founded on 13 July 1966 in New York City by ...

(ISKCON) celebrates the promise of Canto 12, Chapter 13, Verse 13 by distributing sets of Srimad Bhagavatam leading up to the full-moon day of the month of Bhādra (Bhādra Purnima) in India and around the world.

Vaishnavism

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

The Bhagavata has played a significant role in the emergence of the Krishna-bhakti (

Gaudiya Vaishnavism Gaudiya Vaishnavism (), also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism, is a Vaishnavism, Vaishnava Hindu denominations, Hindu religious movement inspired by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) in India. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gaura or Gauḍa region o ...

) movement of

Chaitanya Chaitanya or Chaithanya may refer to Philosophy *Chaitanya (consciousness), Hindu philosophical concept People *Chaitanya (name) *Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533), founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism Media *Chaitanya (film), ''Chaitanya'' (film), ...

(1486–1534 CE), in Bengal. The scriptural basis for the belief that Chaitanya is an avatar of

is found in verses such as the following (''Disciples'' of Swami Prabhupada translation): Chaitanya is commonly referred to as 'Gauranga' in regards to His golden complexion (as detailed in the

Gauranga Gauranga is another name for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (or Gauranga Mahaprabhu), the 16th century founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The term ''Gauranga Mahaprabhu'' references Chaitanya possessing the golden complexion of the goddess Radha as an avat ...

article, the

word 'ākṛṣṇaṁ' means 'not blackish' and 'golden'), and is most notable for popularising the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. In regards to not being explicitly named as an avatar (unlike others such as

) in the Bhagavata, this is also explained (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada translation): The key word in this verse in regards to Krishna incarnating in the age of

is 'channaḥ' (''S''anskrit छन्न''),'' which means ' hidden', 'secret', or 'disguised'. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Chaitanya is accepted as a hidden avatar of

who appeared in the age of Kali (also known as 'the Iron Age' and 'the age of quarrel') as His own devotee to show the easiest way to achieve Krishna Consciousness. Modern Gaudiya movements such as the Gaudiya Math (established by

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (; ; ; 6 February 1874 – 1 January 1937), born Bimala Prasad Datt (, ), was an Indian Gaudīya Vaisnava Hindu guru (spiritual master), ācārya (philosophy instructor), and revivalist in early twentieth-century Ind ...

in 1920) and others established by disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, such as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966) and the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math (by Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar in 1941), trace their disciplic lineages back directly to Chaitanya.

Other Vaishnava Traditions

In the 15th–16th century

Ekasarana Dharma ''Ekasarana Dharma'' () is a Vaishnavism#Later medieval period, Vaishnavite religion propagated by Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th-16th century in the Indian state of Assam. It reduced focus on Vedic ritualism and focuses on devotion (''bhak ...

Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...

, a

tradition whose proponents, Sankardeva and

Madhavdeva (1489–1596) is an important preceptor A preceptor (from Latin, "''praecepto''") is a teacher responsible for upholding a ''precept'', meaning a certain law or tradition. Buddhist monastic orders Senior Buddhist monks can become the prec ...

, acknowledge that their theological positions are rooted in the ''Bhagavata Purana'', purged of doctrines that find no place in Assamese Vaishnavism and adding a

monist Monism attributes oneness or singleness () to a concept, such as to existence. Various kinds of monism can be distinguished: * Priority monism states that all existing things go back to a source that is distinct from them; e.g., in Neoplatonis ...

commentary instead. In northern and western India the ''Bhagavata Purana'' has influenced the ''Hari Bhakti Vilasa'' and ''Haveli''-style Krishna temples found in

Braj Braj, also known as Vraj, Vraja, Brij or Brijbhumi, is a region in India on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includes Palwal, Ballabhgarh and Nuh in ...

region near Mathura-Vrindavan. The text complements the Pancharatra Agama texts of

.Edwin Francis Bryant and Maria Ekstrand (2004), The Hare Krishna Movement, Columbia University Press, , pages 48–51 While the text focuses on Krishna "Narayana (Vishnu) himself appears and explains how

and

should never be seen as independent and different from him". The sixth book includes the feminine principle as ''Shakti'', or goddess Devi, conceptualizing her as the "energy and creative power" of the masculine yet a manifestation of a sexless Brahman, presented in a language suffused with Hindu monism.

Jainism and Buddhism

The fifth canto of the ''Bhagavata Purana'' is significant for its inclusion of legends about the first

Rishabha Rishabhanatha (Devanagari: ऋषभनाथ), also Rishabhadeva (Devanagari: ऋषभदेव, ), Rishabha (Devanagari: ऋषभ, ) or Ikshvaku (Devanagari: इक्ष्वाकु, ''Ikṣvāku''), is the first (Supreme preacher) ...

, as an avatar of

. Further, his father Nabhi is mentioned as one of the Manus and his mother Marudevi also finds a mention. It further mentions the 100 sons of Rishabha including Bharata. While homage to

Shakyamuni Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...

is included in by declaring him as an avatar of

, the interpretation of Buddhism-related stories in the Purana range from honor to ambivalence to polemics wherein prophecies predict some will distort and misrepresent the teachings of the Vedas, and attempt to sow confusion. According to T. S. Rukmani, the Bhagavata Purana is also significant in asserting that

practice is a form of Bhakti.

The Arts

The Bhagavata Purana played a key role in the history of Indian theatre, music, and dance, particularly through the tradition of ''Ras'' ''Leela''. These are dramatic enactments about Krishna's pastimes. Some of the text's legends have inspired secondary theatre literature such as the eroticism in

Gita Govinda The ''Gita Govinda'' (; IAST: ''gītagovindam'') is a work composed by the 12th-century Hindu poet, Jayadeva. It describes the relationship between Krishna, Radha and ''gopis'' (female cow herders) of Vrindavan. The ''Gita Govinda'' is organiz ...

. While Indian dance and music theatre traces its origins to the ancient

Sama Veda The ''Samaveda'' (, , from '' सामन्'', "song" and ''वेद'', "knowledge"), is the Veda of melodies and chants. It is an ancient Vedic Sanskrit text, and is one of the sacred scriptures in Hinduism. One of the four Vedas, it is a l ...

and Natyasastra texts, the ''Bhagavata Purana'' and other

-related texts such as '' Harivamsa'' and ''

Vishnu Purana The Vishnu Purana () is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of ancient and medieval texts of Hinduism. It is an important Pancharatra text in the Vaishnavism literature corpus. The manuscripts of ''Vishnu Purana'' have survived into ...

'' have inspired numerous choreographic themes. Many '''Ras plays dramatise episodes related in the ''Rasa Panchadhyayi'' ("Five chapters of the Celestial Dance"; Canto 10, Chapters 29–33) of the ''Bhagavatam''. The ''Bhagavatam'' also encourages theatrical performance as a means to propagate the faith (BP 11.11.23 and 36, 11.27.35 and 44, etc.), and this has led to the emergence of several theatrical forms centred on Krishna all across India. Canto 10 of ''Bhagavatam'' is regarded as the inspiration for many classical dance styles such as

Kathak ''Kathak'' is one of the eight major forms of Classical Indian dance, Indian classical dance. Its origin is attributed to the traveling bards in ancient northern India known as ''Kathakar'' ("storyteller"), who communicated stories from the ...

Odissi ''Odissi'' (''ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ'') also referred to as ''Orissi'' in old literature, oldest surviving classical dance of India, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temple, temples of Odisha – an eastern ...

, Manipuri and

Bharatnatyam ''Bharatanatyam'' is a Indian classical dance form that came from Tamil Nadu, India. It is a classical dance form recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas of Hinduism and Jain ...

. Bryant summarizes the influence as follows,

Modern reception

In the 20th century, the Bhagavata Purana became widely popular as it spread beyond India, translated into over twenty languages and respected by people worldwide.

Bhaktivedanta Swami

Bhaktivedanta Swami significantly impacted the global recognition of the Bhagavata Purana. Bhaktivedanta Swami, raised in a devout Vaishnava family, embraced the Caitanya tradition in 1932. Between 1962 and 1965, he devoted himself to translating the Bhagavata Purana into English, a departure from earlier works focusing on Caitanya's life and teachings. While lacking formal traditional education, he was deeply familiar with the teachings of Caitanya and the insights of ancient commentators through self-study. He made the Bhagavata Purana meaningful to modern readers, and his way of explaining the text made it easier to understand and relevant to modern world. He appealed to young people who were looking for something different from mainstream religion.

Commentaries and translations

Commentaries

The Bhagavata Purana is one of the most commented texts in Indian literature. There is a saying in Sanskrit – vidyā bhāgavatāvadhi – Bhāgavatam is the limit of one's learning. Hence throughout the centuries it attracted a host of commentators from all schools of Krishna worshippers. Over eighty medieval era ''Bhāṣya'' (scholarly reviews and commentaries) in Sanskrit alone are known, and many more commentaries exist in various Indian languages. The oldest exegetical commentary presently known is ''Tantra-Bhagavata'' from the Pancaratra school. Other commentaries include:

Advaita Vedanta commentaries

*''Bhāvārtha-dīpikā'' by Śrīdhara Svāmī (15th century CE).Gupta, Ravi M. ''Why Śrīdhara Svāmī? The Makings of a Successful Sanskrit Commentary'' According to Ravi M. Gupta, this commentary "exerted extraordinary influence on later Bhāgavata commentaries, and indeed, on Vaiṣṇava traditions more generally." This influence is "particularly true of the

Caitanya Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (; ), born Vishvambhara Mishra () (18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534), was an Indian Hindus, Hindu saint from Bengal and the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna with bha ...

Vaiṣṇava commentaries by Sanātana Gosvāmi, Jīva Gosvāmī, Viśvanātha Cakravartī, and others." *''Amṛta-taraṅginī'' by Lakṣmīdhara (15th century CE) *A commentary by Madhusūdana Sarasvatī () on the first verse of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa.

Acintya-bhedābheda Commentaries

* Caitanya-mata-mañjuṣā – Śrīnātha Cakravartī * Bṛhad-vaiṣṇava-toṣiṇī – Sanātana Gosvāmī * Laghu-Vaiṣṇava-toṣiṇī – Jīva Gosvāmī * Krama-sandarbha – Jīva Gosvāmī * Bṛhat-krama-sandarbha – Jīva Gosvāmī (attributed) * Ṣaṭ-sandarbhas by Jīva Gosvāmī (16th century CE)Barbara Holdrege (2015), Bhakti and Embodiment, Routledge, , pages 149–150 * Sārārtha-darśinī – Viśvanātha Cakravartī (17th century CE) – elaborate commentary * Vaiṣṇavānandinī – Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa * Dīpika-dīpanī – Rādhāramaṇa Gosvāmī * Gauḍīya-bhāṣya – Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati (20th century CE) – elaborate commentary * Bhaktivedānta Purports – A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (20th century CE) – elaborate commentary

Dvaita Dvaita Vedanta (); (originally known as Tattvavada; IAST: ''Tattvavāda''), is a sub-school in the Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') trad ...
commentaries

* Bhāgavata Tātparya Nirṇaya by

(13th century CE) * Pada-ratnavali by Vijayadhvaja Tīrtha (15th century CE) – elaborate commentary * Bhagvata Tatparya Nirnaya Tippani by Yadupati Acharya (16th century) * Duraghatabhavadipa by Satyabhinava Tirtha (17th century CE) * Bhaghavata-Sarodhara by Adavi Jayatirthacharya (18th century CE) * Srimadbhagavata Tippani by Satyadharma Tirtha (18th century CE)

Dvaitādvaita Dvaitadvaita Vedanta, also known as Svabhavika Bhedabheda and as Svabhavika Bhinnabhinna,() is the philosophical doctrine of "natural identity-in-difference" or "natural difference cum-non-difference." It was propagated by the medieval Vedanta, ...
Commentaries

* Siddhānta pradīpikā – Śuka-sudhī (Early 19th Century)

Suddhādvaita Commentaries

* Subodhinī by

Vallabha Vallabha, also known as Vallabhācārya or Vallabha Dīkṣita (May 7, 1478 – July 7, 1530 CE), was the founder of the Krishna, Kr̥ṣṇa-centered Pushtimarg, Puṣṭimārga sect of Vaishnavism, and propounded the philosophy of Shuddhadvait ...

(incomplete — present on the First, Second, Third, Tenth Cantos and partially on the Eleventh Canto) *Bhāgavatārtha-prakaraṇa by

*Daśama-skandha anukramaṇikā by

* Ṭippaṇī – Gosvāmī Viṭṭhalanātha * Subodhinī-prakāśa – Gosvāmī Puruṣhottama * Bāla-prabodhinī – Gosvāmī Giridharlāl * Viśuddha-rasa-dīpikā – Kishorī Prasāda

Viśiṣṭādvaita Commentaries

* Śuka pakṣīyā – Sudarśana sūri (alias Vyāsa Bhaṭṭa) * Bhāgavata-candrikā – Vīrarāghava (14th century CE) – elaborate commentary * Bhakta-rañjanī – Bhagavat prasāda

Others

* ''Hanumad-bhāṣya'' * ''Vāsanā-bhāṣya'' * ''Sambandhokti'' * ''Vidvat-kāmadhenu'' * ''Paramahaṁsa-priyā'' * ''Śuka-hṛdaya'' * ''Muktā-phala'' and ''Hari-līlāmṛta'' by Vopadeva * ''Bhakti-ratnāvali'' by Viṣṇupurī * ''Bhakti-ratnākara'' by Srimanta Sankardev * ''Ekanathi Bhagavata'' by Saint

Eknath Eknath (IAST: Eka-nātha, Marathi pronunciation: knath (1533–1599), was an Indian Hindu Vaishnava saint, philosopher and poet. He was a devotee of the Hindu deity Vitthal and is a major figure of the Warkari movement. Eknath is often vie ...

of Paithan (16th century CE, on the 11th Canto in the vernacular language of the Indian state of Maharashtra) *'' Narayaneeyam'' by Melpathur Bhattathiri of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

(1586, a condensed Srimad Bhagavatam) * Bhāvārtha-dīpikā-prakāśa – Vaṁśīdhara * Anvitārtha prakāśikā – Gaṅgāsahāya *''Bhagavata-Purana'' by S.S. Shulba (2017, original Sanskrit); other Sanskrit manuscripts are available * ''A study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism'' by P.N. Sinha (1901)

Translations

The ''Bhagavata'' has been rendered into various Indian and non-Indian languages. A version of it is available in almost every Indian language, with forty translations alone in the Bengali language. From the eighteenth century onwards, the text became the subject of scholarly interest and Victorian disapproval, with the publication of a French translation followed by an English one. The following is a partial list of translations:

Assamese

* '' Bhagavata of Sankara'' (1449–1568 CE, primary theological source for Mahapurushiya Dharma in the Indian state of

) *''Katha Bhagavata by Bhattadeva '' (Prose translation 16th century CE)

Bengali

* Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya by Maladhara Basu, a translation of the 10th Canto and a bit from others * ''Kṛṣṇa-prema-taraṅginī'' by Śrī Raghunātha Bhāgavatācārya (15th Century CE)

Gurmukhi

10th Book of Bhagvad Purana under title Krishna Avtar written by

Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh (; born Gobind Das; 22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708) was the tenth and last human Sikh gurus, Sikh Guru. He was a warrior, poet, and philosopher. In 1675, at the age of nine he was formally installed as the leader of the ...

Dasam Granth The ( Gurmukhi: ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ''dasama gratha'') is a collection of various poetic compositions attributed to Guru Gobind Singh.

Hindi

* ''Bhagavata Mahapurana'' published by Gita Press (2017)

Kannada Kannada () is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India, and spoken by a minority of the population in all neighbouring states. It has 44 million native speakers, and is additionally a ...

Bhagavata Padaratnavali with kannada translation
by Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanachar
Bhagavata Saroddhara by VishnuTeertharu (Adavi JayatirthaCharyaru) with Kannada translation
by Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanachar
Bhagavata Mahatmya in PadmaPurana
in Kannada Pravachana by Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanachar * ''Bhagavata Mahapurana'' by Vidwan Motaganahalli Ramashesha Sastri (foreword by historian S. Srikanta Sastri) Odia * ''Odia Bhagabata'' by Jagannatha Dasa (15th Century CE)

Telugu

*''Mahābhāgavatamu'' by the poet Bammera Pōtana (15th century CE).

English

*''The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam'' by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1970–77, includes

transliteration Transliteration is a type of conversion of a text from one script to another that involves swapping letters (thus '' trans-'' + '' liter-'') in predictable ways, such as Greek → and → the digraph , Cyrillic → , Armenian → or L ...

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

s, and purports). Swami Prabhupada completed cantos 1 through 9 and the first thirteen chapters of canto 10 before he died. After his departure, a team of his disciples completed the work, which was then published by the Bhaktivedenta Book Trust. *''A prose English translation of Shrimadbhagabatam'' by M.N. Dutt (1895, unabridged) *''Bhagavata Purana'' by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers (1950, unabridged) * ''The Srimad Bhagavatam'' by J.M. Sanyal (1970, abridged) * The Bhagavata Purana by Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare (1976, unabridged) * Srimad Bhagavata by

Swami Tapasyananda Swami Tapasyananda (1904-1991) was a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Mission. He was born in the Palat family of Ottapalam in Kerala, in 1904. His pre-monastic name was K. P. Balakrishnan Menon. In 1921, when he was just 17 years old, he met S ...

(1980, unabridged) *A Translation by B.P. Yati Maharaj of Mayapur Sri Chaitanya Math *Reading from Bhagabata by Gananath Das which has been translated from Odia Bhagabata * ''Bhagavata Mahapurana'' by C.L. Goswami and M.A. Shastri (2006, unabridged, Gita Press) * Śrīmad Bhāgavatam with the Sārārtha-darśinī commentary of Viśvanātha Cakravartī by Swami Bhānu (2010) *''Srimad Bhagavata Purana'' by Anand Aadhar (2012) * ''The Bhagavata Purana'' by

(2019, unabridged)

English (partial translations and paraphrases)

* Kṛṣṇa: The Supreme Personality of Godhead by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (part translation, condensed version: summary study and paraphrase of Canto 10) *Vallabhacarya on the Love Games of Krishna by James D. Redington (English translation of Vallabha's commentary on the Rāsa-Panchyādhyāyi) *''The Bhagavata Purana; Book X'' by Nandini Nopani and P. Lal (1997) * ''Krishna: The Beautiful Legend of God: Srimad Bhagavata Purana Book X'' by Edwin F. Bryant (2004)Edwin Bryant (2004), Krishna: The Beautiful Legend of God: Srimad Bhagavata Purana Book X, Penguin, * ''The Wisdom of God: Srimat Bhagavatam'' by

Swami Prabhavananda Swami Prabhavananda (December 26, 1893 – July 4, 1976) was an Indian philosopher, monk of the Ramakrishna Order, and religious teacher. He moved to America in 1923 to take up the role of assistant minister in the San Francisco Vedanta Society. ...

(part translation, part summary and paraphrase) * * ''The Uddhava Gita'' by Swami Ambikananda Saraswati (2000, prose translation of Canto 11) * ''Bhagavata Purana'' by

Ramesh Menon Ramesh Menon is an author, journalist, documentary filmmaker, and corporate trainer. He was one of the people to win the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2005, as well as the Madhavankutty Gold Medal for Excellence English J ...

(2007, a 'retelling' based on other translations) * ''Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: A Symphony of Commentaries on the Tenth Canto'' in six volumes (covering chapters 1-33) by Gaurapada Dāsa, M.A. (translator) & Matsya Avatāra Dāsa (editor) (2016–2018) * ''Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhagavata Purana'' by Edwin F. Bryant (2017, selections of verses and commentary) * Śrīmad Bhāgavatam with the Krama-sandarbha commentary of Jīva Gosvāmī by Swami Bhānu (2019) * Bṛhad-vaiṣṇnava-toṣaṇī (Canto 10) of Sanātana Gosvāmī by Swami Bhānu (2020) * Laghu-vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī (Canto 10) of Jīva Gosvāmī by Swami Bhānu (2020) * Śrīmad Bhāgavatam with the Vaiṣṇavānandinī commentary (Cantos 1 & 10) of Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa by Swami Bhānu (2022–23)

French

* ''Bagavadam ou Bhagavata Purana'' by Maridas Poullé (1769) * ''Le Bhagavata Purana'' by Eugene Burnouf (1840)

References

Citations

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

English *Swami Prabhupāda's versio
Bhaktivedanta Vedabase

Gita Press versionThe Translation of Sankaradeva's Gunamala – the 'pocket-Bhagavata'
(Assam version)
Translation of Sankaradeva's Veda-Stuti (The Prayer of the Vedas), Bhagavata, Book X, from Sankaradeva's Kirttana Ghosa, the 'Bhagavata in miniature'Bhagavata Purana Research Project
Oxford University
A prose English translation of Srimad Bhagavatam
MN Dutt (Open access limited to the US and parts of Europe)
Bhagavata Purana Research Project
(Srimad Bhagavatam English Version) *An Android app with text in

Devanagari Devanagari ( ; in script: , , ) is an Indic script used in the Indian subcontinent. It is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental Writing systems#Segmental systems: alphabets, writing system), based on the ancient ''Brāhmī script, Brā ...

and

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Brahmic family, Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that ...

, two different English translations and two different recitations
Srimad Bhagavatam (English)
*Swami Harshananda, A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism
Bhagavata
Sanskrit original

* ttp://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_purana/bhagpur.html?lang=sa Bhagavata Purana(Sanskrit)
Searchable transliterated PDF file of the entire Bhagavata-Purana from sanskritweb.net
{{Hindudharma Krishna Puranas Hindu texts Vaishnava texts Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Nomenclature

Dating

Modern scholarship

Content and structure

Stated authorship and purpose

Puranic characteristics

Manuscripts

Cantos (skandhas)

First Canto

Second Canto

Third Canto

Fourth Canto

Fifth Canto

Sixth Canto

Seventh Canto

Eighth Canto

Ninth Canto

Tenth Canto

Study

Eleventh Canto

The Uddhava or Hamsa Gita

Twelfth Canto

Philosophy

Bhakti

Samkhya

Advaita

Dharma

Yoga

Maya

Suffering

Lila

Significance

Relation to other texts

Hindu Festivals

Vaishnavism

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Other Vaishnava Traditions

Jainism and Buddhism

The Arts

Modern reception

Bhaktivedanta Swami

Commentaries and translations

Commentaries

Advaita Vedanta commentaries

Acintya-bhedābheda Commentaries

Dvaita Dvaita Vedanta (); (originally known as Tattvavada; IAST: ''Tattvavāda''), is a sub-school in the Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') trad ... commentaries

Dvaitādvaita Dvaitadvaita Vedanta, also known as Svabhavika Bhedabheda and as Svabhavika Bhinnabhinna,() is the philosophical doctrine of "natural identity-in-difference" or "natural difference cum-non-difference." It was propagated by the medieval Vedanta, ... Commentaries

Suddhādvaita Commentaries

Viśiṣṭādvaita Commentaries

Others

Translations

Assamese

Bengali

Gurmukhi

Hindi

Kannada Kannada () is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India, and spoken by a minority of the population in all neighbouring states. It has 44 million native speakers, and is additionally a ...

Telugu

English

English (partial translations and paraphrases)

French

See also

References

Citations

Sources

Further reading

External links

Dvaita Dvaita Vedanta (); (originally known as Tattvavada; IAST: ''Tattvavāda''), is a sub-school in the Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') trad ...
commentaries

Dvaitādvaita Dvaitadvaita Vedanta, also known as Svabhavika Bhedabheda and as Svabhavika Bhinnabhinna,() is the philosophical doctrine of "natural identity-in-difference" or "natural difference cum-non-difference." It was propagated by the medieval Vedanta, ...
Commentaries