93 - The Padma Purana: Contents 

God Brahmä said: 

1. O son, listen. I shall tell you the story of Padma Purana1 It bestows great merit on those men who joyously read and listen to it. 

1. This Vaişhnava Purana is regarded as the heart of the Cosmic Hari (Pd. Svarga 62.22). There are variations in the nomenclatures of the different Sections (Khandas) and the total number of verses in this Purana. The NP. gives Srushti, Bhumi, Svarga, Patála and Uttara as the names of its Khandas and this is borne out by the Bengal Mss of the Padma P-another evidence to show that the author of the NP was an East Indian. The No. of verses is 55,000 according to the NP., Bh. P., Mt. P., VaP. but the Brahma Vaivarta credits it with 59000 verses. The Anandáśhrama edition (Poona) mentions six Khandas viz. Adi, Bhumi, Brahma, Patála, Sruşhti and Uttara & contains 48,425 verses. The Guru Mandal edition (Calcutta) of the Pd. P. has seven Khandas viz. Srushtii, Bhūmi, Svarga, Brahma, Patala, Uttara and Kriya-yoga-sära and they tally with the statement of the Pd. P. Svarga-Khanda 1.23-25 and the no. of verses is 55000. It is noteworthy that a number of topics in the published Padma Purana such as the characteristic of heretics (Påkhandas), condemnation of the Måyå-Vada, stories regarding wearing special Vaişhnava marks like ürdhva-Pundra, greatness of Dvaitism, etc. do not form a part of Pd. P. as describad in the NP: The special feature of the Pd P is that it was used by Kalidasa for the plot of the Shakuntala and the Raghuvamsha. There is one special Tirtha Mähătmya in the Pd. P. which is not mentioned by the NP and is ignored by complacent editors of the Pd. P. at Bombay (The Venkateshvara Press edition) and Poona (The Anandáśhrama Edt.) and that is the Karavīra Mahatmya of 7300 verses MSS evidence of which is unanimous in claiming it to be a part of the Pd. P. It is being edited by the present editor in the Sk-Pkt. series of the Shivaji University Kolhapur. 

2. Just as a man becomes complete with his five sense organs, so also is this Puråņa with its five sections. It is destructive of sins. 

3. O Brāhmaṇa, the details of religious duties are narrated in it along with the accounts of various incidents, anecdotes, etc. by Pulastya to Bhīşhma with the orderly account of creation of the universe, etc. 

4. The greatness of Puşhkara1 is glorified in detail. The procedure of the Yajña of Brahman and the characteristics of the study of the Vedas (are described). 

1. As in the case of the Br. P. in the case of the Pd. P, the NP mentions only a few topics practically as tokens in each Khanda and passes to the next Purana (Viz, the Vişhnu) 

Thus the greatness of Puşhkara mentioned in this verse (No. 4) forms Chs. 111-117 and god Brahma’s sacrifice is in Chs. 124-131 and the Vrata topic mentioned in the next verse (No. 5) is found in Chs. 200-258 of the Pd. P. 

Hence non-mention of a topic in the NP, is not a proof that the particular topic in the Pd. P is spurious. 

5. Various kinds of (charitable and religious) gifts and holy observances are severally glorified. The marriage of Pärvati is mentioned. There is the long narrative of Tāraka. 

6. The greatness of cows etc. that bestows all merits has been mentioned. The killing of Kālakeyas and other Daityas has been described separately. 

7. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, the mode of worship of the planets and the rite of Dana (religious gift) have been laid down, All these have been mentioned by the noble-souled Vyasa in the first part of Srushţikhanda (Section on creation). 

8. In the context of the worthiness of mother, father and others of being worshipped, there is the story of Shivaśharman 2 first and then that of Suvrata.3 Vruţtra’s4 death is described afterwards. 

2. vide PD P. (Guru Mandal Edition) Bhumi Khanda (Ch. 1.4)

3. ibid Ch. 11, 21, 22

4. ibid Ch. 25 

9. There are the stories of Pruthu, son of Vena1 of Sunithä2 and of Sukalā.3 There is Dharmåkhyāna (narration of Virtue) afterwards. 

1. PD Chs 27-29, Vena story is scattered upto the er of Bhumi-Khanda.

2. ibid Chs 33-36.

3. ibid Chs 41-60.

10. There is the narrative of service rendered to the parents. There is the story of Nahușha. Yayāti’s4 story is narrated. Gurutīrtha5 (Holy centre) is reviewed. 

4. ibid Chs 64, 72-83.

5. ibid Ch. 85.

11. There is the dialogue between the king and Jaimini in which there is a very wonderful story. The story of Ashoka Sundari6 is mentioned along with the death of Daitya Hunda. 

6. ¡bid Chs 103-116

12. The narrative of Kamoda7 along with the death of Vihunda and the dialogue of Kuñjala8 with Chyavana, the noble-souled (sage). 

7. ibid Ch, 119.

8. ibid Chs 86,90,122

13. Then there is the narration of the Siddhas.9 The benefit of (listening and recounting) this section is narrated. Then there is the dialogue between Sūta and Shaunaka. This is remembered as Bhūmikhanda. 

9. ibid. Ch 123. 

The above correspondence of topics in NP. verses 8-13 in this chapter and the various chapters in the Bhumi Khanda of the Pd. P, is enough to show the nature of the Anukramanika Varnanam (The description of the Index or table of contents) of the Pd. P. and NP. 

14. The origin of the Cosmic Egg is narrated by Sauti to the sages. The situation of all the worlds including the Earth is described. Thereafter, the holy centres are enumerated. 

15. Then there is the narration of the origin of Narmadā. The stories of various holy centres in it are severally mentioned. The holy account of the holy centres like Kurukşhetra etc. has been described. 

16. The narration of the merit of the Kālindi, the description of the greatness of Kāśhi and Gayà, and the merit giving glory of Prayāga. 

17. The review of the path of activity (Karmayoga) in accordance with the castes and stages of life. The dialogue between Vyasa and Jaimini is comprised of holy rites and stories. 

18. The story of churning the ocean, thereafter, the enumeration of holy vows. The greatness of Urjapañchāha and the hymn that dispels all guilts. 

O Brāhmaṇa, this is the section called Svarga Khanda. It is destructive of all sins. 

19-21. The description of Rama’s horse sacrifice, Rama’s coronation at the outset, the arrival of Agastya and others, the narration of the family of Paulastya. The instruction regarding horse sacrifice. Then the description of rites regarding the sacrificial horse. The holy stories of many kings. The description of god Jagannatha (the Lord of the Universe) of Puri, the greatness of Vrundåvana; it is destructive of all sins. 

22. The narration of the perpetual sports of the incarnation of Krişhņa, the greatness of the ablution in the month of Vaishakha, the benefit of ablution, gifts and worship. 

23. The dialogue between the Earth and Divine Boar (Vishņu-Varaha), the story of Yama and the Brahmaņa, the dialogue of the messengers of the king, review of the Hymn of Krishņa. 

24. The meeting of Shiva and Shambhu (?), then the story of Dadhicha, the incomparable greatness of the Bhasma, the excellent greatness of Shiva. 

25. The story of the son of Devarāta, the praise of the knower of the Purāņas, the narrative of Gautama, then the Śhiva-Gitā. 

26-27a. The story of Rāma in another Kalpa, the stay in the hermitage of Bhäradvāja. This is the Påtalakhanda* (The section on Pätāla). It is destructive of all the sins of those who listen and recite. It bestows all desired benefits. 

*Some topics mentioned in the NP are found in the extant Pd. Purana e.g. greatness of Bhasma (chs 105-108), Praise of the knower of Purâņas (chs 114-115), The story of Gautama (ch. 114)-Vide Pd. P. Påtala (G. M. edition) 

27b-28. The story of Parvata originally recounted to Gauri by Shiva; then the story of Jalandhara, the narration of Śhri-Shaila etc.; thereafter, the meritorious story of Sagara is narrated. 

29. The merit of Ganga, Prayaga, Käshi and the special merit of Gayā, the greatness (in efficacy) of the gift of cooked rice etc, the holy rite of Mahadvādashi (12th Tithi of Bhadrapada (Shuddha) with Shravaņa Nakșhatra.) 

30. The greatness of twentyfour Ekādaśhīs (eleventh day) in each fortnight is described severally, the narration of Vişhnu dharma, the thousand names of Vişhņu. 

31. The greatness of Kärttikavrata, the benefit of ablution in the month of Mägha. The greatness of the holy centres of the continent Jambūdvipa, which destroys sins. 

32. The greatness of Sabhramati, the description of the origin of Nrusimha, the narration of the story of Devasharmå and others, the description of the greatness of Gītā.* 

*Vide Pd. P. Uttara Khanda, chs. 175-192.

33. The description of devotion and the greatness of Shrimad Bhagavata,** the greatness of Indraprastha with the stories of many holy centres. 

**Vide ibid. chs. 193-198. 

34. The mentioning of Mantraratna, the description of Tripädbhūti; thereafter, the holy stories of the incarnation of Matsya (fish) etc. 

35-37. The hundred divine names of Räma, O Brahmaņa; thereafter, its greatness is described; then the testing of the greatness of Śhrī Vişhņu by Bhrugu. This is the holy fifth section called Uttarakhanda. The excellent man who listens to the Padma Purana comprising of five Khandas attains the abode of Vişhņu after enjoying all pleasures here that he desires. This Purāņa contains fifty-five thousand verses. It is called Padma Purana. 

38. This must be written in full and handed over to a Brāhmaṇa well versed in the Purăņas after honouring him suitably on the full moon day in the month of Jyeșhtha along with a gold lotus. He who does so is bowed to by all the Devas. He goes to the abode of Vişhņu. He who reads this index to Padma Purāņa or listens to it attains the merit of listening to the whole of Padmapurāņa.