Description of the Number of Chapters

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.1.2.1)

सूत उवाच । धन्योऽहमतिभाग्योऽहं पावितोऽहं महात्मभिः । यत्पृष्टं सुमहत्पुण्यं पुराणं वेदविश्रुतम् ॥ 2.1 ॥

sūta uvāca dhanyo'hamatibhāgyo'haṁ pāvito'haṁ mahātmabhiḥ yatpṛṣṭaṁ sumahatpuṇyaṁ purāṇaṁ vedaviśrutam

Suta said: Blessed am I, most fortunate am I, purified am I by great souls, in that this greatly meritorious Purana, renowned as equal to the Veda, has been asked of me.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.1.2.2)

तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वश्रुत्यर्थसम्मतम् । रहस्यं सर्वशास्त्राणामागमानामनुत्तमम् ॥ 2.2 ॥

tadahaṁ sampravakṣyāmi sarvaśrutyarthasammatam rahasyaṁ sarvaśāstrāṇāmāgamānāmanuttamam

That I shall now declare in full — a text in accord with the meaning of all the Vedas, the very secret of all scriptures, unsurpassed among the sacred teachings.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.1.2.3)

नत्वा तत्पदपङ्कजं सुललितं मुक्तिप्रदं योगिनाम् ॥ ब्रह्माद्यैरपि सेवितं स्तुतिपरैर्ध्येयं मुनीन्द्रैः सदा । वक्ष्याम्यद्य सविस्तरं बहुरसं श्रीमत्पुराणोत्तमम् ॥ भक्त्या सर्वरसालयं भगवतीनाम्ना प्रसिद्धं द्विजाः ॥ 2.3 ॥

natvā tatpadapaṅkajaṁ sulalitaṁ muktipradaṁ yoginām brahmādyairapi sevitaṁ stutiparairdhyeyaṁ munīndraiḥ sadā vakṣyāmyadya savistaraṁ bahurasaṁ śrīmatpurāṇottamam bhaktyā sarvarasālayaṁ bhagavatīnāmnā prasiddhaṁ dvijāḥ

Bowing to her lotus feet — most graceful, the giver of liberation to yogis, served even by Brahma and the other gods, ever meditated upon by the greatest sages absorbed in her praise — I shall today, with devotion, declare in full detail that most excellent and glorious Purana, rich in every rasa, the very abode of all flavor, renowned, O twice-born ones, by the name of the Bhagavati.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.1.2.4)

या विद्येत्यभिधीयते श्रुतिपथे शक्तिः सदाद्या परा ॥ सर्वज्ञा भवबन्धछित्तिनिपुणा सर्वाशये संस्थिता । दुर्ज्ञेया सुदुरात्मभिश्च मुनिभिर्ध्यानास्पदं प्रापिता ॥ प्रत्यक्षा भवतीह सा भगवती सिद्धिप्रदा स्यात्सदा ॥ 2.4 ॥

yā vidyetyabhidhīyate śrutipathe śaktiḥ sadādyā parā sarvajñā bhavabandhachittinipuṇā sarvāśaye saṁsthitā durjñeyā sudurātmabhiśca munibhirdhyānāspadaṁ prāpitā pratyakṣā bhavatīha sā bhagavatī siddhipradā syātsadā

She who in the path of the Veda is called Vidya, the eternal, primeval, supreme Shakti — all-knowing, skilled in severing the bonds of worldly existence, abiding within every heart; hard to know even by the wicked, yet brought within the reach of meditation by sages — that Bhagavati becomes directly manifest here, and ever grants accomplishment.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.1.2.5)

सृष्ट्वाखिलं जगदिदं सदसत्स्वरूपं शक्त्या स्वया त्रिगुणया परिपाति विश्वम् । संहृत्य कल्पसमये रमते तथैका तां सर्वविश्वजननीं मनसा स्मरामि ॥ 2.5 ॥

sṛṣṭvākhilaṁ jagadidaṁ sadasatsvarūpaṁ śaktyā svayā triguṇayā paripāti viśvam saṁhṛtya kalpasamaye ramate tathaikā tāṁ sarvaviśvajananīṁ manasā smarāmi

Having created this whole universe, of the nature of both being and non-being, she protects the world by her own three-fold power; and having withdrawn it at the time of dissolution, she alone rests in sport. That mother of the whole universe I hold in remembrance.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.1.2.6)

ब्रह्मा सृजत्यखिलमेतदिति प्रसिद्धं पौराणिकैश्च कथितं खलु वेदविद्भिः । विष्णोस्तु नाभिकमले किल तस्य जन्म तैरुक्तमेव सृजते न हि स स्वतन्त्रः ॥ 2.6 ॥

brahmā sṛjatyakhilametaditi prasiddhaṁ paurāṇikaiśca kathitaṁ khalu vedavidbhiḥ viṣṇostu nābhikamale kila tasya janma tairuktameva sṛjate na hi sa svatantraḥ

That Brahma creates all this is well known, indeed declared by the tellers of the Puranas and the knowers of the Veda; yet his own birth was from the lotus of Vishnu's navel — he creates only as bidden by that other, for he is not independent.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.1.2.7)

विष्णुस्तु शेषशयने स्वपितीति काले तन्नाभिपद्यमुकुले खलु तस्य जन्म । आधारतां किल गतोऽत्र सहस्रमौलिः सम्बोध्यतां स भगवान् हि कथं मुरारिः ॥ 2.7 ॥

viṣṇustu śeṣaśayane svapitīti kāle tannābhipadyamukule khalu tasya janma ādhāratāṁ kila gato'tra sahasramauliḥ sambodhyatāṁ sa bhagavān hi kathaṁ murāriḥ

And Vishnu, too, sleeps upon the couch of Shesha at that time, for Brahma's very birth was from the bud of the lotus at his navel; the thousand-hooded Shesha becomes merely his support. How, then, could that Lord Murari awaken of himself, without her?

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.1.2.8)

एकार्णवस्य सलिलं रसरूपमेव पात्रं विना न हि रसस्थितिरस्ति कच्चित् । या सर्वभूतविषये किल शक्तिरूपा तां सर्वभूतजननीं शरणं गतोऽस्मि ॥ 2.8 ॥

ekārṇavasya salilaṁ rasarūpameva pātraṁ vinā na hi rasasthitirasti kaccit yā sarvabhūtaviṣaye kila śaktirūpā tāṁ sarvabhūtajananīṁ śaraṇaṁ gato'smi

The water of the single primeval ocean is itself of the very nature of essence — yet without a vessel no essence can ever remain in a fixed state. She who, in the form of Shakti, indeed pervades every being — to her, the mother of all beings, I have gone for refuge.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.1.2.9)

योगनिद्रामीलिताक्षं विष्णुं दृष्ट्वाम्बुजे स्थितः । अजस्तुष्टाव यां देवीं तामहं शरणं गतः ॥ 2.9 ॥

yoganidrāmīlitākṣaṁ viṣṇuṁ dṛṣṭvāmbuje sthitaḥ ajastuṣṭāva yāṁ devīṁ tāmahaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

Seeing Vishnu, his eyes closed in yogic slumber, the unborn Brahma, seated upon the lotus, praised that Devi — to her I too have gone for refuge.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.1.2.10)

तां ध्यात्वा सगुणां मायां मुक्तिदां निर्गुणां तथा । वक्ष्ये पुराणमखिलं शृण्वन्तु मुनयस्त्विह ॥ 2.10 ॥

tāṁ dhyātvā saguṇāṁ māyāṁ muktidāṁ nirguṇāṁ tathā vakṣye purāṇamakhilaṁ śṛṇvantu munayastviha

Having meditated upon her — Maya endowed with the gunas, and likewise the liberation-giving one who is beyond the gunas — I shall now declare the entire Purana; let the sages here listen.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.1.2.11)

पुराणमुत्तमं पुण्यं श्रीमद्भागवताभिधम् । अष्टादश सहस्राणि श्लोकास्तत्र तु संस्कृताः ॥ 2.11 ॥

purāṇamuttamaṁ puṇyaṁ śrīmadbhāgavatābhidham aṣṭādaśa sahasrāṇi ślokāstatra tu saṁskṛtāḥ

This is the most excellent and sacred Purana known by the name Shrimad Bhagavata; eighteen thousand Sanskrit verses have been composed within it.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.1.2.12)

स्कन्धा द्वादश चैवात्र कृष्णेन विहिताः शुभाः । त्रिशतं पूर्णमध्याया अष्टादशयुताः स्मृताः ॥ 2.12 ॥

skandhā dvādaśa caivātra kṛṣṇena vihitāḥ śubhāḥ triśataṁ pūrṇamadhyāyā aṣṭādaśayutāḥ smṛtāḥ

Twelve auspicious Skandhas were composed here by Krishna Dvaipayana; the full count of chapters within them is recorded as three hundred and eighteen.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.1.2.13)

विंशतिः प्रथमे तत्र द्वितीये द्वादशैव तु । त्रिंशच्चैव तृतीये तु चतुर्थे पञ्चविंशतिः ॥ 2.13 ॥

viṁśatiḥ prathame tatra dvitīye dvādaśaiva tu triṁśaccaiva tṛtīye tu caturthe pañcaviṁśatiḥ

Twenty chapters in the first Skandha, and twelve indeed in the second; thirty in the third, and twenty-five in the fourth.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.1.2.14)

पञ्चत्रिंशत्तथाध्यायाः पञ्चमे परिकीर्तिताः । एकत्रिंशत्तथा षष्ठे चत्वारिंशच्च सप्तमे ॥ 2.14 ॥

pañcatriṁśattathādhyāyāḥ pañcame parikīrtitāḥ ekatriṁśattathā ṣaṣṭhe catvāriṁśacca saptame

Thirty-five chapters are likewise proclaimed for the fifth; thirty-one for the sixth, and forty for the seventh.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.1.2.15)

अष्टमे तत्त्वसङ्ख्याश्च पञ्चाशन्नवमे तथा । त्रयोदश तु सम्प्रोक्ता दशमे मुनिना किल ॥ 2.15 ॥

aṣṭame tattvasaṅkhyāśca pañcāśannavame tathā trayodaśa tu samproktā daśame muninā kila

In the eighth, as many chapters as there are tattvas — twenty-four; likewise fifty in the ninth; and thirteen, indeed, were declared by the sage for the tenth.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.1.2.16)

तथा चैकादशस्कन्धे चतुर्विंशतिरीरिताः । चतुर्दशैव चाध्याया द्वादशे मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ 2.16 ॥

tathā caikādaśaskandhe caturviṁśatirīritāḥ caturdaśaiva cādhyāyā dvādaśe munisattamāḥ

And in the eleventh Skandha, twenty-four chapters are declared; while in the twelfth, O best of sages, there are fourteen chapters indeed.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.1.2.17)

एवं सङ्ख्या समाख्याता पुराणेऽस्मिन्महात्मना । अष्टादशसहस्रीया सङ्ख्या च परिकीर्तिता ॥ 2.17 ॥

evaṁ saṅkhyā samākhyātā purāṇe'sminmahātmanā aṣṭādaśasahasrīyā saṅkhyā ca parikīrtitā

Thus has the chapter-count of this Purana been declared by the great sage; and the total sum of eighteen thousand verses has likewise been proclaimed.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.1.2.18)

सर्गश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च वंशो मन्वन्तराणि च । वंशानुचरितं चैव पुराणं पञ्चलक्षणम् ॥ 2.18 ॥

sargaśca pratisargaśca vaṁśo manvantarāṇi ca vaṁśānucaritaṁ caiva purāṇaṁ pañcalakṣaṇam

Creation, secondary creation, genealogy, the Manvantaras, and the histories following the genealogies — these are the five characteristic marks of a Purana.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.1.2.19)

निर्गुणा या सदा नित्या व्यापिका विकृता शिवा । योगगम्याखिलाधारा तुरीया या च संस्थिता ॥ 2.19 ॥

nirguṇā yā sadā nityā vyāpikā vikṛtā śivā yogagamyākhilādhārā turīyā yā ca saṁsthitā

She who is ever eternal and without qualities, all-pervading yet assuming manifest form, auspicious in nature, attainable through yoga, the support of all, abiding as the Fourth transcendent state —

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.1.2.20)

तस्यास्तु सात्त्विकी शक्ती राजसी तामसी तथा । महालक्ष्मीः सरस्वती महाकालीति ताः स्त्रियः ॥ 2.20 ॥

tasyāstu sāttvikī śaktī rājasī tāmasī tathā mahālakṣmīḥ sarasvatī mahākālīti tāḥ striyaḥ

—of her there are the sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic Shaktis: these three goddesses are Mahalakshmi, Sarasvati, and Mahakali.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.1.2.21)

तासां तिसॄणां शक्तीनां देहाङ्गीकारलक्षणः । सृष्ट्यर्थं च समाख्यातः सर्गः शास्त्रविशारदैः ॥ 2.21 ॥

tāsāṁ tisṝṇāṁ śaktīnāṁ dehāṅgīkāralakṣaṇaḥ sṛṣṭyarthaṁ ca samākhyātaḥ sargaḥ śāstraviśāradaiḥ

The taking on of bodily form by these three Shaktis, for the purpose of creation, is what the masters of scripture declare to be 'sarga', primary creation.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.1.2.22)

हरिद्रुहिणरुद्राणां समुत्पत्तिस्ततः स्मृता । पालनोत्पत्तिनाशार्थं प्रतिसर्गः स्मृतो हि सः ॥ 2.22 ॥

haridruhiṇarudrāṇāṁ samutpattistataḥ smṛtā pālanotpattināśārthaṁ pratisargaḥ smṛto hi saḥ

From that comes the joint origin of Hari, Brahma, and Rudra; that process, undertaken for sustaining, generating, and destroying, is indeed known as 'pratisarga'.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.1.2.23)

सोमसूर्योद्भवानां च राज्ञां वंशप्रकीर्तनम् । हिरण्यकशिप्वादीनां वंशास्ते परिकीर्तिताः ॥ 2.23 ॥

somasūryodbhavānāṁ ca rājñāṁ vaṁśaprakīrtanam hiraṇyakaśipvādīnāṁ vaṁśāste parikīrtitāḥ

The proclaiming of the lineages of kings born of the Lunar and Solar dynasties, and the lineages of Hiranyakashipu and others — these are declared to be 'vamsha', genealogy.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.1.2.24)

स्वायम्भुवमुखानां च मनूनां परिवर्णनम् । कालसङ्ख्या तथा तेषां तत्तन्मन्वन्तराणि च ॥ 2.24 ॥

svāyambhuvamukhānāṁ ca manūnāṁ parivarṇanam kālasaṅkhyā tathā teṣāṁ tattanmanvantarāṇi ca

The full description of the Manus beginning with Svayambhuva, and likewise the reckoning of time belonging to each of their respective Manvantaras —

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.1.2.25)

तेषां वंशानुकथनं वंशानुचरितं स्मृतम् । पञ्चलक्षणयुक्तानि भवन्ति मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ 2.25 ॥

teṣāṁ vaṁśānukathanaṁ vaṁśānucaritaṁ smṛtam pañcalakṣaṇayuktāni bhavanti munisattamāḥ

—and the recounting of their descendants' lineage-histories is known as 'vamshanucharita'. Thus, O best of sages, the Puranas come into being, endowed with these five characteristic marks.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.1.2.26)

सपादलक्षं च तथा भारतं मुनिना कृतम् । इतिहास इति प्रोक्तं पञ्चमं वेदसम्मतम् ॥ 2.26 ॥

sapādalakṣaṁ ca tathā bhārataṁ muninā kṛtam itihāsa iti proktaṁ pañcamaṁ vedasammatam

And likewise the Bharata, composed by the sage in a hundred and twenty-five thousand verses, is called an 'Itihasa', a history — the fifth category, held equal in authority to the Veda.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.1.2.27)

शौनक उवाच । कानि तानि पुराणानि ब्रूहि सूत सविस्तरम् । कतिसङ्ख्यानि सर्वज्ञ श्रोतुकामा वयं त्विह ॥ 2.27 ॥

śaunaka uvāca kāni tāni purāṇāni brūhi sūta savistaram katisaṅkhyāni sarvajña śrotukāmā vayaṁ tviha

Shaunaka said: What are those Puranas? Tell us, O Suta, in full detail; how many are there in number, O all-knowing one? We are eager to hear of them here.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.1.2.28)

कलिकालविभीताः स्मो नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । ब्रह्मणात्र समादिष्टाश्चक्रं दत्त्वा मनोमयम् ॥ 2.28 ॥

kalikālavibhītāḥ smo naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ brahmaṇātra samādiṣṭāścakraṁ dattvā manomayam

We, dwellers of the Naimisha forest, are terrified of the Kali age; we were instructed here by Brahma himself, who gave us a mind-made wheel.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.1.2.29)

कथितं तेन नः सर्वान्गच्छन्त्वेतस्य पृष्ठतः । नेमिः संशीर्यते यत्र स देशः पावनः स्मृतः ॥ 2.29 ॥

kathitaṁ tena naḥ sarvāngacchantvetasya pṛṣṭhataḥ nemiḥ saṁśīryate yatra sa deśaḥ pāvanaḥ smṛtaḥ

He told us all: 'Go, following behind it; wherever its rim wears away, that place shall be known as a sanctified land.'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.1.2.30)

कलेस्तत्र प्रवेशो न कदाचित् सम्भविष्यति । तावत्तिष्ठन्तु तत्रैव यावत्सत्ययुगं पुनः ॥ 2.30 ॥

kalestatra praveśo na kadācit sambhaviṣyati tāvattiṣṭhantu tatraiva yāvatsatyayugaṁ punaḥ

'There, the entry of Kali shall never occur; remain there itself until the Satya Yuga comes again.'

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.1.2.31)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य गृहीत्वा तत्कथानकम् । चालयन्निर्गतस्तूर्णं सर्वदेशदिदृक्षया ॥ 2.31 ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya gṛhītvā tatkathānakam cālayannirgatastūrṇaṁ sarvadeśadidṛkṣayā

Having heard his words and taken up that instruction, we set out swiftly, rolling the wheel along, desiring to see every land.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.1.2.32)

प्रेत्यात्र चालयंश्चक्रं नेमिः शीर्णोऽत्र पश्यतः । तेनेदं नैमिषं प्रोक्तं क्षेत्रं परमपावनम् ॥ 2.32 ॥

pretyātra cālayaṁścakraṁ nemiḥ śīrṇo'tra paśyataḥ tenedaṁ naimiṣaṁ proktaṁ kṣetraṁ paramapāvanam

As we went forth rolling the wheel, its rim wore away right here before our eyes; therefore this supremely sacred field is called Naimisha.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.1.2.33)

कलिप्रवेशो नैवात्र तस्मात्स्थानं कृतं मया । मुनिभिः सिद्धसङ्घैश्च कलिभीतैर्महात्मभिः ॥ 2.33 ॥

kalipraveśo naivātra tasmātsthānaṁ kṛtaṁ mayā munibhiḥ siddhasaṅghaiśca kalibhītairmahātmabhiḥ

Since Kali can never enter here, I, together with the sages and hosts of siddhas — great souls all fearful of Kali — have made this my abode.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.1.2.34)

पशुहीनाः कृता यज्ञाः पुरोडाशादिभिः किल । कालातिवाहनं कार्यं यावत्सत्ययुगागमः ॥ 2.34 ॥

paśuhīnāḥ kṛtā yajñāḥ puroḍāśādibhiḥ kila kālātivāhanaṁ kāryaṁ yāvatsatyayugāgamaḥ

Sacrifices without animal offerings are performed here with cakes and the like; the passing of time is thus to be spent until the coming of the Satya Yuga.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.1.2.35)

भाग्ययोगेन सम्प्राप्तः सूत त्वं चात्र सर्वथा । कथयाद्य पुराणं हि पावनं ब्रह्मसम्मतम् ॥ 2.35 ॥

bhāgyayogena samprāptaḥ sūta tvaṁ cātra sarvathā kathayādya purāṇaṁ hi pāvanaṁ brahmasammatam

By the conjunction of good fortune, you, O Suta, have arrived here in every way; now tell us today that purifying Purana held equal to Brahman.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.1.2.36)

सूत शुश्रूषवः सर्वे वक्ता त्वं मतिमानथ । निर्व्यापारा वयं नूनमेकचित्तास्तथैव च ॥ 2.36 ॥

sūta śuśrūṣavaḥ sarve vaktā tvaṁ matimānatha nirvyāpārā vayaṁ nūnamekacittāstathaiva ca

O Suta, all of us are eager to listen, and you are the wise speaker; we are indeed free of other occupation and of one focused mind.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.1.2.37)

त्वं सूत भव दीर्घायुस्तापत्रयविवर्जितः । कथयाद्य पुराणं हि पुण्यं भागवतं शिवम् ॥ 2.37 ॥

tvaṁ sūta bhava dīrghāyustāpatrayavivarjitaḥ kathayādya purāṇaṁ hi puṇyaṁ bhāgavataṁ śivam

O Suta, may you have long life, free from the three-fold affliction; tell us today that sacred and auspicious Bhagavata Purana —

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.1.2.38)

यत्र धर्मार्थकामानां वर्णनं विधिपूर्वकम् । विद्यां प्राप्य तया मोक्षः कथितो मुनिना किल ॥ 2.38 ॥

yatra dharmārthakāmānāṁ varṇanaṁ vidhipūrvakam vidyāṁ prāpya tayā mokṣaḥ kathito muninā kila

—wherein the description of Dharma, Artha, and Kama is given according to due method, and wherein liberation, attained through Wisdom, has indeed been declared by the sage.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.1.2.39)

द्वैपायनेन मुनिना कथितं यच्च पावनम् । न तृप्यामो वयं सूत कथां श्रुत्वा मनोरमाम् ॥ 2.39 ॥

dvaipāyanena muninā kathitaṁ yacca pāvanam na tṛpyāmo vayaṁ sūta kathāṁ śrutvā manoramām

That which was told by the sage Dvaipayana, and which is purifying — hearing that enchanting tale, O Suta, we are never satiated.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.1.2.40)

सकलगुणगणानामेकपात्रं पवित्र\- ॥ मखिलभुवनमातुर्नाट्यवद्यद्विचित्रम् । निखिलमलगणानां नाशकृत्कामकन्दम् ॥ प्रकटय भगवत्या नामयुक्तं पुराणम् ॥ 2.40 ॥

sakalaguṇagaṇānāmekapātraṁ pavitra\- makhilabhuvanamāturnāṭyavadyadvicitram nikhilamalagaṇānāṁ nāśakṛtkāmakandam prakaṭaya bhagavatyā nāmayuktaṁ purāṇam

Reveal to us that Purana bearing the name of the Bhagavati — the sole vessel of every virtue, sacred, wondrous with the flawless divine play of the Mother of all the worlds, the destroyer of every mass of impurity, and the very root that fulfills all desire.