Adhyaya 13

Verse 1

सूत उवाच यं ब्रह्मा वरुणेन्द्ररुद्रमरुत: स्तुन्वन्ति दिव्यै: स्तवै- र्वेदै: साङ्गपदक्रमोपनिषदैर्गायन्ति यं सामगा: । ध्यानावस्थिततद्गतेन मनसा पश्यन्ति यं योगिनो यस्यान्तं न विदु: सुरासुरगणा देवाय तस्मै नम: ॥ १ ॥

Sūta Gosvāmī said: I offer my humble obeisances to that Supreme Lord whom Brahmā, Varuṇa, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise with divine hymns; whom the Vedas—together with their limbs, pada-kramas and Upaniṣads—and the chanters of the Sāma Veda continually sing; whom perfected yogīs behold within, their minds absorbed in trance; and whose limit neither demigods nor demons can ever know.

Verse 2

पृष्ठे भ्राम्यदमन्दमन्दरगिरिग्रावाग्रकण्डूयना- न्निद्रालो: कमठाकृतेर्भगवत: श्वासानिला: पान्तु व: । यत्संस्कारकलानुवर्तनवशाद् वेलानिभेनाम्भसां यातायातमतन्द्रितं जलनिधेर्नाद्यापि विश्राम्यति ॥ २ ॥

When the Supreme Lord appeared as Kūrma, the tortoise, the sharp stones of the massive, whirling Mount Mandara scratched His back, and the scratching made the Lord drowsy. May the winds arising from His breathing in that sleepy state protect you all. From that time until today, the ocean’s tides have piously imitated His inhalation and exhalation, ceaselessly flowing in and out.

Verse 3

पुराणसङ्ख्यासम्भूतिमस्य वाच्यप्रयोजने । दानं दानस्य माहात्म्यं पाठादेश्च निबोधत ॥ ३ ॥

Now please hear a summary of the verse counts of each Purāṇa. Then hear the chief subject and purpose of this Bhāgavata Purāṇa, the proper method of giving it as a sacred gift, the glories of such giving, and finally the glories of hearing and reciting/chanting this scripture.

Verse 4

ब्राह्मं दशसहस्राणि पाद्मं पञ्चोनषष्टि च । श्रीवैष्णवं त्रयोविंशच्चतुर्विंशति शैवकम् ॥ ४ ॥ दशाष्टौ श्रीभागवतं नारदं पञ्चविंशति । मार्कण्डं नव वाह्नं च दशपञ्च चतु:शतम् ॥ ५ ॥ चतुर्दश भविष्यं स्यात्तथा पञ्चशतानि च । दशाष्टौ ब्रह्मवैवर्तं लैङ्गमेकादशैव तु ॥ ६ ॥ चतुर्विंशति वाराहमेकाशीतिसहस्रकम् । स्कान्दं शतं तथा चैकं वामनं दश कीर्तितम् ॥ ७ ॥ कौर्मं सप्तदशाख्यातं मात्स्यं तत्तु चतुर्दश । एकोनविंशत्सौपर्णं ब्रह्माण्डं द्वादशैव तु ॥ ८ ॥ एवं पुराणसन्दोहश्चतुर्लक्ष उदाहृत: । तत्राष्टदशसाहस्रं श्रीभागवतमिष्यते ॥ ९ ॥

The Brahma Purāṇa has ten thousand verses, the Padma Purāṇa fifty-five thousand; the Śrī Viṣṇu Purāṇa twenty-three thousand, the Śiva Purāṇa twenty-four thousand; and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam eighteen thousand. The Nārada Purāṇa has twenty-five thousand, the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa nine thousand, the Agni (Vāhni) Purāṇa fifteen thousand four hundred; the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa fourteen thousand five hundred, the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa eighteen thousand, and the Liṅga Purāṇa eleven thousand. The Varāha Purāṇa contains twenty-four thousand, the Skanda Purāṇa eighty-one thousand one hundred, the Vāmana Purāṇa ten thousand; the Kūrma Purāṇa seventeen thousand, the Matsya Purāṇa fourteen thousand, the Garuḍa (Sauparṇa) Purāṇa nineteen thousand, and the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa twelve thousand verses. Thus the total of all Purāṇas is four hundred thousand verses; of these, eighteen thousand belong to the glorious Bhāgavatam.

Verse 5

ब्राह्मं दशसहस्राणि पाद्मं पञ्चोनषष्टि च । श्रीवैष्णवं त्रयोविंशच्चतुर्विंशति शैवकम् ॥ ४ ॥ दशाष्टौ श्रीभागवतं नारदं पञ्चविंशति । मार्कण्डं नव वाह्नं च दशपञ्च चतु:शतम् ॥ ५ ॥ चतुर्दश भविष्यं स्यात्तथा पञ्चशतानि च । दशाष्टौ ब्रह्मवैवर्तं लैङ्गमेकादशैव तु ॥ ६ ॥ चतुर्विंशति वाराहमेकाशीतिसहस्रकम् । स्कान्दं शतं तथा चैकं वामनं दश कीर्तितम् ॥ ७ ॥ कौर्मं सप्तदशाख्यातं मात्स्यं तत्तु चतुर्दश । एकोनविंशत्सौपर्णं ब्रह्माण्डं द्वादशैव तु ॥ ८ ॥ एवं पुराणसन्दोहश्चतुर्लक्ष उदाहृत: । तत्राष्टदशसाहस्रं श्रीभागवतमिष्यते ॥ ९ ॥

The Brahma Purāṇa contains ten thousand verses; the Padma Purāṇa, fifty-five thousand; the Śrī Viṣṇu Purāṇa, twenty-three thousand; the Śiva Purāṇa, twenty-four thousand; and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, eighteen thousand. The Nārada Purāṇa has twenty-five thousand; the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, nine thousand; the Agni Purāṇa, fifteen thousand four hundred; the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, fourteen thousand five hundred; the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, eighteen thousand; and the Liṅga Purāṇa, eleven thousand. The Varāha Purāṇa holds twenty-four thousand; the Skanda Purāṇa, eighty-one thousand one hundred; the Vāmana Purāṇa, ten thousand; the Kūrma Purāṇa, seventeen thousand; the Matsya Purāṇa, fourteen thousand; the Garuḍa Purāṇa, nineteen thousand; and the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, twelve thousand. Thus the host of all Purāṇas is declared to be four hundred thousand verses; and of these, eighteen thousand belong again to the beautiful, sacred Bhāgavatam.

Verse 6

ब्राह्मं दशसहस्राणि पाद्मं पञ्चोनषष्टि च । श्रीवैष्णवं त्रयोविंशच्चतुर्विंशति शैवकम् ॥ ४ ॥ दशाष्टौ श्रीभागवतं नारदं पञ्चविंशति । मार्कण्डं नव वाह्नं च दशपञ्च चतु:शतम् ॥ ५ ॥ चतुर्दश भविष्यं स्यात्तथा पञ्चशतानि च । दशाष्टौ ब्रह्मवैवर्तं लैङ्गमेकादशैव तु ॥ ६ ॥ चतुर्विंशति वाराहमेकाशीतिसहस्रकम् । स्कान्दं शतं तथा चैकं वामनं दश कीर्तितम् ॥ ७ ॥ कौर्मं सप्तदशाख्यातं मात्स्यं तत्तु चतुर्दश । एकोनविंशत्सौपर्णं ब्रह्माण्डं द्वादशैव तु ॥ ८ ॥ एवं पुराणसन्दोहश्चतुर्लक्ष उदाहृत: । तत्राष्टदशसाहस्रं श्रीभागवतमिष्यते ॥ ९ ॥

The Brahma Purāṇa contains ten thousand verses; the Padma Purāṇa, fifty-five thousand; the Śrī Viṣṇu Purāṇa, twenty-three thousand; the Śiva Purāṇa, twenty-four thousand; and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, eighteen thousand. The Nārada Purāṇa has twenty-five thousand; the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, nine thousand; the Agni Purāṇa, fifteen thousand four hundred; the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, fourteen thousand five hundred; the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, eighteen thousand; and the Liṅga Purāṇa, eleven thousand. The Varāha Purāṇa holds twenty-four thousand; the Skanda Purāṇa, eighty-one thousand one hundred; the Vāmana Purāṇa, ten thousand; the Kūrma Purāṇa, seventeen thousand; the Matsya Purāṇa, fourteen thousand; the Garuḍa Purāṇa, nineteen thousand; and the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, twelve thousand. Thus all the Purāṇas together are said to be four hundred thousand verses; and of these, eighteen thousand belong to the sacred Bhāgavatam.

Verse 7

ब्राह्मं दशसहस्राणि पाद्मं पञ्चोनषष्टि च । श्रीवैष्णवं त्रयोविंशच्चतुर्विंशति शैवकम् ॥ ४ ॥ दशाष्टौ श्रीभागवतं नारदं पञ्चविंशति । मार्कण्डं नव वाह्नं च दशपञ्च चतु:शतम् ॥ ५ ॥ चतुर्दश भविष्यं स्यात्तथा पञ्चशतानि च । दशाष्टौ ब्रह्मवैवर्तं लैङ्गमेकादशैव तु ॥ ६ ॥ चतुर्विंशति वाराहमेकाशीतिसहस्रकम् । स्कान्दं शतं तथा चैकं वामनं दश कीर्तितम् ॥ ७ ॥ कौर्मं सप्तदशाख्यातं मात्स्यं तत्तु चतुर्दश । एकोनविंशत्सौपर्णं ब्रह्माण्डं द्वादशैव तु ॥ ८ ॥ एवं पुराणसन्दोहश्चतुर्लक्ष उदाहृत: । तत्राष्टदशसाहस्रं श्रीभागवतमिष्यते ॥ ९ ॥

The Brahma Purāṇa contains ten thousand verses; the Padma Purāṇa, fifty-five thousand; the Śrī Viṣṇu Purāṇa, twenty-three thousand; the Śiva Purāṇa, twenty-four thousand; and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, eighteen thousand. The Nārada Purāṇa has twenty-five thousand; the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, nine thousand; the Agni Purāṇa, fifteen thousand four hundred; the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, fourteen thousand five hundred; the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, eighteen thousand; and the Liṅga Purāṇa, eleven thousand. The Varāha Purāṇa contains twenty-four thousand; the Skanda Purāṇa, eighty-one thousand one hundred; the Vāmana Purāṇa, ten thousand; the Kūrma Purāṇa, seventeen thousand; the Matsya Purāṇa, fourteen thousand; the Garuḍa Purāṇa, nineteen thousand; and the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, twelve thousand. Thus the Purāṇas together are said to number four hundred thousand verses; and among them, eighteen thousand belong to the sacred Bhāgavatam.

Verse 8

ब्राह्मं दशसहस्राणि पाद्मं पञ्चोनषष्टि च । श्रीवैष्णवं त्रयोविंशच्चतुर्विंशति शैवकम् ॥ ४ ॥ दशाष्टौ श्रीभागवतं नारदं पञ्चविंशति । मार्कण्डं नव वाह्नं च दशपञ्च चतु:शतम् ॥ ५ ॥ चतुर्दश भविष्यं स्यात्तथा पञ्चशतानि च । दशाष्टौ ब्रह्मवैवर्तं लैङ्गमेकादशैव तु ॥ ६ ॥ चतुर्विंशति वाराहमेकाशीतिसहस्रकम् । स्कान्दं शतं तथा चैकं वामनं दश कीर्तितम् ॥ ७ ॥ कौर्मं सप्तदशाख्यातं मात्स्यं तत्तु चतुर्दश । एकोनविंशत्सौपर्णं ब्रह्माण्डं द्वादशैव तु ॥ ८ ॥ एवं पुराणसन्दोहश्चतुर्लक्ष उदाहृत: । तत्राष्टदशसाहस्रं श्रीभागवतमिष्यते ॥ ९ ॥

The Brahma Purāṇa contains ten thousand verses; the Padma Purāṇa, fifty-five thousand; the Śrī Viṣṇu Purāṇa, twenty-three thousand; the Śiva Purāṇa, twenty-four thousand; and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, eighteen thousand. The Nārada Purāṇa has twenty-five thousand; the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, nine thousand; the Agni Purāṇa, fifteen thousand four hundred; the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, fourteen thousand five hundred; the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, eighteen thousand; and the Liṅga Purāṇa, eleven thousand. The Varāha Purāṇa contains twenty-four thousand; the Skanda Purāṇa, eighty-one thousand one hundred; the Vāmana Purāṇa, ten thousand; the Kūrma Purāṇa, seventeen thousand; the Matsya Purāṇa, fourteen thousand; the Garuḍa Purāṇa, nineteen thousand; and the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, twelve thousand. Thus the total of all Purāṇas is proclaimed as four hundred thousand verses; and of these, eighteen thousand belong to the beautiful Bhāgavatam.

Verse 9

ब्राह्मं दशसहस्राणि पाद्मं पञ्चोनषष्टि च । श्रीवैष्णवं त्रयोविंशच्चतुर्विंशति शैवकम् ॥ ४ ॥ दशाष्टौ श्रीभागवतं नारदं पञ्चविंशति । मार्कण्डं नव वाह्नं च दशपञ्च चतु:शतम् ॥ ५ ॥ चतुर्दश भविष्यं स्यात्तथा पञ्चशतानि च । दशाष्टौ ब्रह्मवैवर्तं लैङ्गमेकादशैव तु ॥ ६ ॥ चतुर्विंशति वाराहमेकाशीतिसहस्रकम् । स्कान्दं शतं तथा चैकं वामनं दश कीर्तितम् ॥ ७ ॥ कौर्मं सप्तदशाख्यातं मात्स्यं तत्तु चतुर्दश । एकोनविंशत्सौपर्णं ब्रह्माण्डं द्वादशैव तु ॥ ८ ॥ एवं पुराणसन्दोहश्चतुर्लक्ष उदाहृत: । तत्राष्टदशसाहस्रं श्रीभागवतमिष्यते ॥ ९ ॥

The Brahma Purāṇa consists of ten thousand verses; the Padma Purāṇa of fifty-five thousand; the Śrī Viṣṇu Purāṇa of twenty-three thousand; the Śiva Purāṇa of twenty-four thousand; and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam of eighteen thousand. The Nārada Purāṇa has twenty-five thousand verses; the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa nine thousand; the Agni Purāṇa fifteen thousand four hundred; the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa fourteen thousand five hundred; the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa eighteen thousand; and the Liṅga Purāṇa eleven thousand. The Varāha Purāṇa contains twenty-four thousand; the Skanda Purāṇa eighty-one thousand one hundred; the Vāmana Purāṇa ten thousand; the Kūrma Purāṇa seventeen thousand; the Matsya Purāṇa fourteen thousand; the Garuḍa Purāṇa nineteen thousand; and the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa twelve thousand. Thus the total of all Purāṇas is declared to be four hundred thousand verses; and of these, eighteen thousand belong, once again, to the beautiful Bhāgavatam.

Verse 10

इदं भगवता पूर्वं ब्रह्मणे नाभिपङ्कजे । स्थिताय भवभीताय कारुण्यात् सम्प्रकाशितम् ॥ १० ॥

Out of compassion, the Supreme Lord first fully revealed this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to Brahmā, who sat upon the lotus sprung from the Lord’s navel, trembling in fear of material existence.

Verse 11

आदिमध्यावसानेषु वैराग्याख्यानसंयुतम् । हरिलीलाकथाव्रातामृतानन्दितसत्सुरम् ॥ ११ ॥ सर्ववेदान्तसारं यद ब्रह्मात्मैकत्वलक्षणम् । वस्त्वद्वितीयं तन्निष्ठं कैवल्यैकप्रयोजनम् ॥ १२ ॥

From beginning to end, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is filled with accounts that awaken renunciation and with nectarean narrations of Śrī Hari’s transcendental līlās, delighting saintly devotees and the devas. It is the essence of all Vedānta, for its subject is the Absolute Truth—nondual, the supreme reality—though not different from the ātman; and its sole aim is exclusive bhakti to that Supreme Truth.

Verse 12

आदिमध्यावसानेषु वैराग्याख्यानसंयुतम् । हरिलीलाकथाव्रातामृतानन्दितसत्सुरम् ॥ ११ ॥ सर्ववेदान्तसारं यद ब्रह्मात्मैकत्वलक्षणम् । वस्त्वद्वितीयं तन्निष्ठं कैवल्यैकप्रयोजनम् ॥ १२ ॥

From beginning to end, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is filled with accounts that awaken renunciation and with nectarean narrations of Śrī Hari’s transcendental līlās, delighting saintly devotees and the devas. It is the essence of all Vedānta, for its subject is the Absolute Truth—nondual, the supreme reality—though not different from the ātman; and its sole aim is exclusive bhakti to that Supreme Truth.

Verse 13

प्रौष्ठपद्यां पौर्णमास्यां हेमसिंहसमन्वितम् । ददाति यो भागवतं स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ १३ ॥

Whoever, on the full-moon day of Bhādra, places the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam upon a golden throne and gives it in charity attains the supreme transcendental destination.

Verse 14

राजन्ते तावदन्यानि पुराणानि सतां गणे । यावद्भ‍ागवतं नैव श्रूयतेऽमृतसागरम् ॥ १४ ॥

Only so long as the great ocean of nectar, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is not heard do the other Purāṇas shine in the assembly of saintly devotees.

Verse 15

सर्ववेदान्तसारं हि श्रीभागवतमिष्यते । तद्रसामृततृप्तस्य नान्यत्र स्याद्रति: क्‍वचित् ॥ १५ ॥

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is proclaimed the very essence of all Vedānta. One who is satisfied by its nectarean rasa is never attracted to any other literature.

Verse 16

निम्नगानां यथा गङ्गा देवानामच्युतो यथा । वैष्णवानां यथा शम्भु: पुराणानामिदं तथा ॥ १६ ॥

Just as the Gaṅgā is greatest among rivers, Lord Acyuta supreme among the devas, and Śambhu (Śiva) the foremost of Vaiṣṇavas, so Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the greatest of all Purāṇas.

Verse 17

क्षेत्राणां चैव सर्वेषां यथा काशी ह्यनुत्तमा । तथा पुराणव्रातानां श्रीमद्भ‍ागवतं द्विजा: ॥ १७ ॥

O brāhmaṇas, just as the city of Kāśī is unexcelled among holy places, so Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is supreme among all the Purāṇas.

Verse 18

श्रीमद्भ‍ागवतं पुराणममलं यद्वैष्णवानां प्रियं यस्मिन् पारमहंस्यमेकममलं ज्ञानं परं गीयते । तत्र ज्ञानविरागभक्तिसहितं नैष्कर्म्यमाविष्कृतं तच्छृण्वन् सुपठन् विचारणपरो भक्त्या विमुच्येन्नर: ॥ १८ ॥

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa, most dear to the Vaiṣṇavas; within it the one pure, supreme knowledge of the paramahaṁsas is sung. It reveals naiskarmya—freedom from karmic work—together with jñāna, renunciation, and bhakti. Whoever devotedly hears, properly recites, and deeply contemplates it becomes fully liberated.

Verse 19

कस्मै येन विभासितोऽयमतुलो ज्ञानप्रदीप: पुरा तद्रूपेण च नारदाय मुनये कृष्णाय तद्रूपिणा । योगीन्द्राय तदात्मनाथ भगवद्राताय कारुण्यत- स्तच्छुद्धं विमलं विशोकममृतं सत्यं परं धीमहि ॥ १९ ॥

I meditate upon the Supreme Absolute Truth—pure and spotless, beyond sorrow and death—who in the beginning personally revealed this incomparable torch of knowledge to Brahmā. Brahmā spoke it to Nārada, Nārada to Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa, Vyāsa to the great yogī Śukadeva, and Śukadeva, in mercy, recited it to Bhagavadrāta (Mahārāja Parīkṣit).

Verse 20

नमस्तस्मै भगवते वासुदेवाय साक्षिणे । य इदं कृपया कस्मै व्याचचक्षे मुमुक्षवे ॥ २० ॥

I offer my obeisances to the Supreme Lord, Bhagavān Vāsudeva, the all-pervading Witness, who in mercy explained this sacred knowledge to Brahmā when he longed for liberation.

Verse 21

योगीन्द्राय नमस्तस्मै शुकाय ब्रह्मरूपिणे । संसारसर्पदष्टं यो विष्णुरातममूमुचत् ॥ २१ ॥

I offer my obeisances to Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the foremost of yogic sages and a manifestation of Brahman, who delivered Viṣṇurāta (Mahārāja Parīkṣit) when he was bitten by the serpent of material existence.

Verse 22

भवे भवे यथा भक्ति: पादयोस्तव जायते । तथा कुरुष्व देवेश नाथस्त्वं नो यत: प्रभो ॥ २२ ॥

O Lord of lords, O Prabhu, please arrange that, life after life, bhakti may arise at Your lotus feet, for You alone are our master and shelter.

Verse 23

नामसङ्कीर्तनं यस्य सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । प्रणामो दु:खशमनस्तं नमामि हरिं परम् ॥ २३ ॥

I bow to Hari, the Supreme Lord: the saṅkīrtana of His holy names destroys all sins, and offering obeisances to Him pacifies all material sorrow.