# Bhagavata Purana

> Sanskrit text, most popular of the eighteen major Puranas, story of Krishna

**Wikidata**: [Q682958](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q682958)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavata_Purana)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bhagavata-purana

## Summary

Bhagavata Purana (श्रीमद्भागवतपुराणम्) is a Sanskrit text and the most popular of the eighteen major Puranas, centered on the story of Krishna. It is classified as a Hindu religious text and literary work, composed of twelve cantos (skandhas) containing 18,000 verses. The text is also known by aliases including Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavata Maha Purana, Bhagavatam, and Bhagvat Katha.

## Key Facts

- **Wikipedia title**: Bhagavata Purana
- **Wikidata description**: Sanskrit text, most popular of the eighteen major Puranas, story of Krishna
- **Sitelink count**: 53 (Wikipedia connections)
- **Inception**: Approximately 10th century CE (+1000-00-00T00:00:00Z)
- **Language**: Sanskrit
- **Aliases**: Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavata Maha Purana, Bhagavatam, Bhagvat Katha
- **Genre**: Q179461 (religious literature)
- **Instance of**: Q7725634, Q188602 (literary work, religious text)
- **Structure**: 12 cantos (skandhas), 18,000 verses
- **P1476 (title in native script)**: श्रीमद्भागवतपुराणम्
- **P8703 (abbreviation)**: BhP
- **P12112**: 42357

### Identifiers and References

- P373: Bhagavata Purana
- P646: /m/040nsd
- P1417: topic/Bhagavata-purana
- P2924: 1892030
- P3219: bhagavata-purana
- P4342: Bhagavata-Purana
- P4839: Entity["Book", "BhagavataPurana"]
- P6385: kultura_i_obrazovanie/religiya/BHAGAVATA-PURANA.html
- P7305: 3876879
- P8248: Q22:223
- P443: LL-Q1571 (mar)-Neelima64-भागवत पुराण.wav (audio file)

### Related Entities

- **Parent/Field**: Purana — Hindu scriptures (sitelink_count: 78)
- **Classification**: religious text — type of creative work (sitelink_count: 81)
- **Subset**: Hamsa Gita — Subset of Bhagavata Purana (sitelink_count: 9)

## FAQs

**What is the Bhagavata Purana?**

The Bhagavata Purana is a Sanskrit Hindu scripture and one of the eighteen major Puranas. It focuses primarily on the life and teachings of Krishna and is considered the most popular of all the Puranas.

**What is the structure of the Bhagavata Purana?**

The text consists of twelve cantos (skandhas) containing approximately 18,000 verses. It is also known by several names including Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavata Maha Purana, and Bhagavatam.

**When was the Bhagavata Purana composed?**

The Bhagavata Purana is estimated to have been composed around the 10th century CE, though exact dating remains a subject of scholarly discussion.

**How does the Bhagavata Purana relate to other Hindu scriptures?**

The Bhagavata Purana is classified as a Purana, which are Hindu scriptures containing myths, legends, and religious teachings. It is part of the broader category of religious texts and is distinct from other Puranas in its specific focus on Krishna's life.

**What is the relationship between the Bhagavata Purana and Hamsa Gita?**

Hamsa Gita is a subset of the Bhagavata Purana, representing a smaller portion or derivative text from the larger work.

**What languages is the Bhagavata Purana available in?**

The primary text is in Sanskrit, with the title written as श्रीमद्भागवतपुराणम्. The work has been translated into numerous languages and has significant sitelink presence across 53 Wikipedia language editions.

## Why It Matters

The Bhagavata Purana holds immense significance in Hindu religious and cultural traditions. As the most popular among the eighteen major Puranas, it serves as a primary source for understanding Vaishnavite theology, particularly the worship of Vishnu through his incarnations, especially Krishna. The text's 12-canto structure provides comprehensive coverage of cosmic creation, genealogical accounts of deities and sages, and most importantly, the divine leelas (pastimes) of Krishna in Vrindavan.

The work's influence extends beyond religious practice into Indian art, music, dance, and literature. Its narratives have inspired countless paintings, temple sculptures, classical dance performances, and musical compositions throughout Indian history. The text also contains philosophical discussions on yoga, devotion (bhakti), and the nature of reality that continue to inform contemporary spiritual discourse.

In modern contexts, the Bhagavata Purana serves as a foundational text for various Vaishnavite traditions, including those of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and numerous other Hindu organizations worldwide. Its teachings on devotion, morality, and spiritual realization remain relevant to millions of practitioners and scholars studying Hindu philosophy and comparative religion.

## Notable For

- Being the most popular among the eighteen major Puranas
- Focusing specifically on the life and teachings of Krishna
- Containing 12 cantos with approximately 18,000 verses
- Being known by multiple aliases including Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavata Maha Purana
- Having significant digital presence with 53 Wikipedia sitelinks across language editions
- Being classified under genre Q179461 (religious literature)
- Containing the Hamsa Gita as a recognized subset
- Representing a foundational text in Vaishnavite religious tradition

## Body

### Definition and Classification

The Bhagavata Purana (श्रीमद्भागवतपुराणम्) is a Sanskrit Hindu religious text classified as one of the eighteen major Puranas. It is distinguished from other Puranas by its primary focus on the life, teachings, and divine pastimes of Krishna, particularly those occurring in Vrindavan. The text holds the distinction of being the most popular among the Puranas, as evidenced by its high sitelink count of 53 across Wikipedia language editions.

The work is categorized under multiple classification systems: it is an instance of Q7725634 (literary work) and Q188602 (religious text), with genre classification Q179461 representing religious literature. Its structure consists of twelve cantos known as skandhas, containing approximately 18,000 verses in traditional verse form.

### Historical Context and Composition

The Bhagavata Purana is estimated to have been composed around the 10th century CE, though scholarly consensus on exact dating varies. The text emerged within the broader tradition of Purana literature in Hinduism, which served to preserve mythological narratives, genealogical accounts, and religious teachings in accessible verse form. The composition represents a synthesis of earlier Vaishnavite traditions and philosophical developments within Hindu religious thought.

### Names and Aliases

The text is known by several names reflecting its content and status in Hindu tradition:

- **Srimad Bhagavatam**: An honorific title meaning "Beautiful Lord" or "Supreme Being"
- **Bhagavata Maha Purana**: Emphasizing its status as a major Purana
- **Bhagavatam**: Shortened common reference
- **Bhagvat Katha**: Referring to the narrative content
- **BhP.**: Standard abbreviation used in scholarly references

The title in native Sanskrit script is श्रीमद्भागवतपुराणām, with the P1476 property capturing this precise representation.

### Structure and Content

The twelve cantos (skandhas) of the Bhagavata Purana cover:

- First canto: Creation and cosmological narratives
- Subsequent cantos: Genealogies of sages and kings
- Middle cantos: Life of Krishna in Vrindavan
- Final cantos: Discourses on yoga, devotion, and spiritual liberation

The text combines narrative storytelling with philosophical discourse, making it both a religious text and a work of literary merit.

### Relationship to Other Entities

The Bhagavata Purana exists within a network of related Hindu scriptures:

- **Purana (Thing)**: The broader category of Hindu scriptures to which it belongs, with 78 sitelinks
- **Religious text (Thing)**: The general classification of creative works that includes it, with 81 sitelinks
- **Hamsa Gita (Thing)**: A recognized subset of the Bhagavata Purana, with 9 sitelinks, representing a smaller portion of the text

### Digital Presence and Identifiers

The Bhagavata Purana has been cataloged across multiple digital knowledge bases:

- **P373**: Bhagavata Purana (Wikimedia Commons category)
- **P646**: /m/040nsd (Freebase identifier)
- **P1417**: topic/Bhagavata-purana (Encyclopedia Britannica topic)
- **P3219**: bhagavata-purana (Wikiquote topic)
- **P4342**: Bhagavata-Purana (Open Library)
- **P4839**: Entity["Book", "BhagavataPurana"] (DBpedia type)
- **P6385**: kultura_i_obrazovanie/religiya/BHAGAVATA-PURANA.html (Russian cultural portal)
- **P7305**: 3876879 (WorldCat identifier)
- **P8248**: Q22:223 (Wikidata property)
- **P12112**: 42357 (National Library of Sweden identifier)

An audio file exists in Marathi (P443: LL-Q1571 (mar)-Neelima64-भागवत पुराण.wav), demonstrating the text's preservation in multiple Indian languages.

### Cultural and Religious Significance

The Bhagavata Purana occupies a central position in Vaishnavite religious practice. Its narratives of Krishna's childhood pastimes, his relationships with the gopis (cowherd maidens), and his philosophical discourses with Arjuna in the Gita Govinda portion have shaped Hindu devotional practices for centuries. The text emphasizes the path of bhakti (devotional yoga) as the highest means of spiritual realization.

The work has influenced various regional traditions throughout the Indian subcontinent, inspiring local interpretations, translations, and adaptations. Its stories continue to be retold in temples, homes, and religious gatherings, maintaining its relevance in contemporary Hindu practice.

## References

1. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki//Q442401)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013