Vishnu Purana
विष्णुपुराण
The Glory of Lord Vishnu
A cosmic journey through creation, preservation, and dissolution — told through the sacred dialogue of Parashara and Maitreya.
Start ReadingAbout This Book
The Vishnu Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a foundational text of the Vaishnava tradition. Narrated by the sage Parashara to his disciple Maitreya, it describes the creation and structure of the universe, the genealogies of gods and kings, the geography of the world, and the divine acts of Lord Vishnu — culminating in the story of Krishna and the eventual dissolution of all things.
How This Book Is Organised
The Vishnu Purana is structured as a sacred dialogue unfolding across six parts.
Amshas
Six parts of the text
Adhyayas
Chapters within each Amsha
Shlokas
Verses read one by one
Available Reading Features
This edition of the Vishnu Purana on Vedapath includes:
Original Sanskrit verses (Devanagari)
Transliteration for guided reading
Word-by-word meanings
Clear, faithful translations
Cosmological, theological, and narrative enrichments
Amshas of the Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is traditionally divided into six Amshas (parts).
Each Amsha covers a distinct domain of cosmic and spiritual knowledge.
Part One: Sarga (Cosmic Origination) and the Guru–Śiṣya Transmission
Cosmic Origination & the Guru-Shishya Transmission
This Amsha narrates the creation of the universe by Vasudeva, the cosmic order, and the sacred transmission of knowledge from Parashara to Maitreya.
Amsha 2: Priyavrata’s Lineage and the Sacred Geography of Bhū-maṇḍala (Jambūdvīpa & Bhārata-varṣa)
Sacred Geography of Bhu-mandala
This Amsha describes Priyavrata's lineage, the divisions of the earth including Jambudvipa and Bharata-varsha, and the cosmic geography.
Amsha 3: Manvantaras, Divine Governance, and the Vyāsa Principle
Manvantaras and Divine Governance
This Amsha covers the cycle of Manvantaras, the divine governance of the cosmos, and the roles of various Manus and deities.
Amsha 4: Dynasties (Vaṃśa) and Royal Narratives with Theological Interludes
Royal Dynasties and Theological Interludes
This Amsha traces the Solar and Lunar dynasties with key narratives of kings, sages, and theological teachings interwoven.
Amsha 5: Krishna’s Descent (Avatāra) and the Removal of Earth’s Burden
Krishna's Descent and the Divine Play
The heart of the Vishnu Purana — narrating Krishna's avatara, his childhood pastimes in Vrindavan, and the removal of Earth's burden.
Amsha 6 — Dissolution (Pralaya), Time-Cycles, and Kali-Yuga Dharma
Dissolution, Time-Cycles, and Liberation
This Amsha describes the Kali Yuga, the dissolution of the universe (Pralaya), cosmic time cycles, and the path to liberation through devotion.