101- The Brahma-Vaivarta Purāņa: Contents

Shri Brahmā said: 

1. O dear child, I shall recount to you the tenth Purana named Brahmavaivarta.1 It points out the path of the Vedas.

1. This Purāņa is Brahma-Vaivarta as the entire Brahman was manifested by Krişhņa: 

vivrutam Brahma kartsnyena Krushnena yatra Shaunaka| Brahma-Vaivartakam tena pravadanti pura-vidah ||

-Brahma-Vaivarta 1.1-10

It is obviously a Vaishnava Purana-mainly devoted to the glorification of Rådhå and as such is very popular with Gaudiya Vaişhņavas. According to Wilson this work does not deserve to be called a Purana (Vişhņupurana, Intro. LXV-LXVII) 

2. In it the Lord himself assumed the form of Sävarna and narrated the subject matter of the Purāņa to Nārada,1 the divine sage. He mentioned the entire miraculous non-mundane subject matter to him. 

1. Although the NP. states that this Purana is in the form of a dialogue between Lord Savarni and Närada, in the printed edition (GM) Sauti and Shaunaka are the interlocutors in the 1st (Brahma) Khanda while Narayana (and not Sävarņi) and Närada are the interlocutors in the rest of the khandas. 

3. The essence of virtue (dharma), wealth, love and liberation from bondage of samsāra is the pleasure in and love for Hari and Hara. In order to establish their non-difference is meant the excellent Brahmavaivarta (transformation of Brahman). 

4. The events of Rathantara Kalpa narrated in details by me in the Purāņa of hundred crores of verses were condensed and narrated by the knower of the Vedas (i.e. Vyasa). 

5. In the Purāņa called Brahmavaivarta he condensed it into four parts. This Purāņa is reputed to contain eighteen thousand verses.2 

2. This statement of NP regarding the extent of the Brahma Vaivarta (18000 verses) is supported by the Vayu, MT. P. AP., BH.P., and Brahma Vaivarta itself. 

Aşhtadasha-sahasram cha Brahma-Vaivartam ipsitam 

Br. Vai. IV. 131. 16

But in the Anandāśhrama edt. there are 20,694 verses (PJ VII 2. p. 349) and GM edt. adds an additional (spurious) khanda-Kashirahasya. 

6. It consists of parts (sections) called Brahmā, Prakruti, Gaṇeśha and Krişhņa. There the Purāņa starts with the dialogue between Sūta and Sages. 

7. The first chapter (prakaraṇa) pertains to the creation; then there is a great verbal disputation between Närada and Vedhas (god Brahma) in which both of them met with a great defeat. 

8-10a. Then the attainment of Shiva’s world. The acquisition of perfect knowledge through the realisation of Shiva’s Ātman through Shiva’s exposition. Thereafter, O Marichi, Nárada goes to the hermitage of Sävarņi1 which was resorted to by Siddhas for the purpose of perfect knowledge. That is an exceedingly meritorious hermitage causing wonderment in the three worlds. This is well known as Brahma Khanda. It is destructive of sins. 

1. The Printed text of Br. Vaivarta Brahma Khanda Ch. 28 does not mention Săvarni at all. God Shankara sends Närada to Nārāyaṇa in the Badarivana and the rest of the Purana is a dialogue between Närada and Nārāyana (and not Săvarņi though Savarni in the NP. is regarded as identical with Vişhņu). 

A detailed comparison of the contents of the printed Br. Vaivarta Purana and those given in the NP shows that the author of the NP had a different version of this Purana before him. 

10b-11. Then the dialogue between Sävarņi and Närada is recounted. It contains the greatness of Krishņa and a number of various different anecdotes, the greatness of the Kalas (digits) that are parts of Prakruti is described. 

12. The mode of worship in the precise manner has been described in detail. This is the well-known Prakriti Khanda that brings about prosperity. 

13. The word of enquiry about the nativity of Ganesha: Pärvati’s great and meritorious Vrata (holy vow); the birth of Vighnesha along with Kārttikeya. 

14-15a. The wonderful story of Kārttavīrya and Jämadagnya (Paraśhurāma). A great dispute arises between Gaņeśha and Jämadagnya (Parashurama). This is the Vighnesha Khanda that dispels all obstacles. 

15b-16. The enquiry regarding the birth of Śhrikrishņa: The narration of his birth in wonderful manner, his departure to Gokula (the cowherds’ colony), the miracles of killing Putană, etc.; his sports during infancy and boyhood of diverse kinds, are described. 

17. ‘The Rása sport in the autumn along with the cowherdesses is mentioned; his secret dalliance with Radhā is described in detail. 

18. Thereafter, Hari goes to Mathurā accompanied by Akrūra. After the killing of Kamsa and others Krishņa is consecrated as a twice-born (i.e. investiture with the sacred thread.) 

19. The wonderful learning of all lores from Sandipani of Kāśhi, the killing of Yavana, thereafter the departure of Hari to Dvarakā. 

20. The killing of Naraka etc, was wonderfully carried out by Krişhņa. O Brāhmaṇa, this is the Krishņa Khanda that cuts at the root of worldly existence of men. 

21. This is read, heard, meditated upon, worshipped and saluted. Thus is the Supramundane Brahmavaivarta Purāņa. 

22. This is narrated at the outset by Vyasa. One who reads it and listens to it is liberated from the terrible ocean of worldly existence through the acquisition of perfect knowledge and the suppression of ignorance. 

23. He who writes this out and makes a gift of it on the full moon day in the month of Mägha along with a cow attains Brahmaloka. He is liberated from the bondage of ignorance. 

24. He too, who reads or listens to this index (contents of this Purāņa) attains the desired benefit, thanks to Krishņa’s grace.