Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 24

Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa

Daśa-lakṣaṇam

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च शैवं लैङ्गं सगारुडं । नारदीयं भागवतमाग्नेयं स्कान्दसंज्ञितम् ॥ २३ ॥ भविष्यं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं मार्कण्डेयं सवामनम् । वाराहं मात्स्यं कौर्मं च ब्रह्माण्डाख्यमिति त्रिषट् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṁ pādmaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ ca śaivaṁ laiṅgaṁ sa-gāruḍaṁ nāradīyaṁ bhāgavatam āgneyaṁ skānda-saṁjñitam

Translation

มหาปุราณะสิบแปด ได้แก่ พรหมะ ปัทมะ ไวษณวะ ไศวะ ลิงคะ ครุฑ นารทียะ ภาควตะ อัคนียะ สกันทะ; และ ภวิษยะ พรหมไววรรตะ มารกัณฑेय วามนะ วราหะ มัตสยะ กูรมะ และ พรหมาณฑะ ปุราณะ

Synonyms

• भविष्यम्: Bhaviṣya Purāṇa
• भविष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भविष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुराणनाम

• ब्रह्म-वैवर्तम्: Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa
• ब्रह्म-वैवर्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वैवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (Brahma-related transformation)

• मार्कण्डेयम्: Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa
• मार्कण्डेयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुराणनाम

• स-वामनम्: Vāmana Purāṇa
• स-वामनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपपद) + वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष (with/including Vāmana)

• वाराहम्: Varāha Purāṇa
• वाराहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुराणनाम

• मात्स्यम्: Matsya Purāṇa
• मात्स्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुराणनाम

• कौर्मम्: Kūrma Purāṇa
• कौर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुराणनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• ब्रह्माण्ड-आख्यम्: named ‘Brahmāṇḍa’
• ब्रह्माण्ड-आख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त: आ-ख्या धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (named ‘Brahmāṇḍa’)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उक्त्यर्थक/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative/end marker)

• त्रिषट्: (making) eighteen
• त्रिषट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिषट् (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्द), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु (three+six=18)

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has quoted from the Varāha Purāṇa, Śiva Purāṇa and Matsya Purāṇa in confirmation of the above two verses.

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the eighteen Mahapuranas?

In Canto 12, Chapter 7, Śukadeva Gosvāmī enumerates the Purāṇas by name, placing the Bhāgavata among them as part of the recognized Purāṇic canon.

Why did Shukadeva Goswami list the Puranas to King Parikshit?

He was summarizing Vedic and Purāṇic literature within the Bhāgavatam’s concluding teachings, situating the Bhāgavata Purāṇa within the broader scriptural tradition for Parīkṣit’s understanding.

Practical application of knowing the Purana list in modern life?

It helps a seeker navigate Vedic sources responsibly—recognizing major Purāṇas, choosing study paths, and appreciating the Bhāgavatam’s place within India’s devotional scripture heritage.