109 - The Brahmanda Puraņa: Contents

God Brahma said: 

1. O dear one, listen, I shall recount to you the ancient (Purāņa) named Brahmånda.¹ It comprises twelve thousand verses. It deals with the events of the Adikalpa. 

1. According to the NP., Bh. P. (xii. 13. 8), AP. (272. 23), the Brahmānda P. consists of 12,000 verses and 12,200 according to Mt. P. 53. 54. But the Venkateshvara edt. gives 14,286 verses. Its contents are divided into three parts (the preliminary (Pūrva) part containing 2 sections: Prakriya (Introduction in 5 Chs.) and Anuşhanga (various kalpas, manu-ages, etc. in 33 Chs.) Part II (Upodehata) deals with the genealogies of kings or dynastic history. Part III (Upa-samhara) is a recapitulation of the creation of the Universe, Manu-epochs, dissolution of the Universe). It is however, called a Puråņa with four parts (catushpäda) v. 29. 

Kirfel in his Purana Panchalakshana has noted the close similarity in hundreds of verses in the Vayu and Brahmånda Puranas and proposed a theory that they formed one Purāņa originally. 

The Purana traces the tradition of authorship as follows: God Bramma- Vasişhtha-Paråshara-Jätūkarnya+Väyu or Prabhanjana-Vyasa (vv. 33 34). 

This table of contents in the NP tallies in general with those of the printed editions of the Brahmånda Puråņa except the 40 chapters of the Lalità episode. 

(vide table of contents of the Puråņa Edt. Jagadish Shastri MLBD, Delhi, pp ix-xi,) 

2. It has four Padas (quarters), the first one is called Prakriyapada, then is the Anuşhangapāda, the third one is Upodghāta Päda (quarter of Introductory matter) and the fourth one is Upasamhära (conclusion). 

3. The first two quarters constitute the first or earlier section, the third quarter forms the middle section and the fourth quarter, the final section. 

4. At the beginning, there is the stipulation of duties, then the story of the Naimisha forest, the origin of Hiranyagarbha, the conception of the different worlds. 

5. This is the (summary of the) first quarter. O bestower of honour, listen to the second. The narration of the Kalpas and the Manvantaras, the knowledge of the worlds, thereafter. 

6. The narration of the mental creation, the description of Rudra’s offsprings, the elegance and prowess of Mahādeva and thereafter, the creation by the sages. 

7. The conquest of fires, the description of the existence of Kāla (Time), the specification of the family of Priya vrata, the length and extent of the Earth. 

8. The description of the (sub-continent) Bharata and then the review of other sub-continents, the description of Jam būdvipa and other continents, then the description of the nether-worlds. 

9. The enumeration of the upper worlds, and thereafter, the movements of the planets, the narration of the Solar Array (Planetary system), the enumeration of the Divine planets. 

10. The explanation of the name Nilakaņțha, prowess of Mahādeva, description of the New moon day, the review of the principles of the different Yugas. 

11. The institution of the Yajñas, the last two Yugas and their activity, the characteristic features of the human beings etc. in different Yugas, the description of the spiritual lineage of the sages. 

12. The narration of the classification of the Vedas, the description of Svāyambhuva Manu and the enumeration of the remaining Manvantaras and then the milking of the Earth. 

13. The first part, the second quarter ends with the current creation in the Chåkşhuşha Manvantara. Then in the Upodghāta quarter, the glorification of the seven sages. 

14. The family of Prajāpati; the birth of the Devas and others therefrom; the desire for victory, the narration of the origin of the Maruts. 

15. The narration of the descendants of Kaśhyapa, the review of the families of the sages, the narration of the Pitri Kalpa, and thereafter, the Shraddha Kalpa (the rituals regarding the Shraddha). 

16. The origin of Vaivasvata Manu and thereafter, the creation by him, and the family of Manu’s sons, ultimately the review of the Gandharvas. 

17. The narration of the family of Ikşhváku, the family of the noble-souled Atri, the family of Amavasu and the wonderful story of Raji. 

18. The story of Yayāti, the review of the family of Yadu; the story of Karttavīrya, thereafter, the story of Jamadaagni and his son. 

19. The description of the family of Vruşhni, the birth of Sagara, the story of Bhargava (Paraśhu-Rāma) subsequent to the killing of his father. 

20. The story of Sagara, the story of Bhargava once again, the story of the battle between the Devas and Asuras, the description of the manifestation of Krişhņa. 

21. The meritorious hymn in praise of Indra glorified by Shukra, the narration of the greatness of Vişhņu and the review of the family of Bali. 

22. The story of the future kings after the advent of the Kali age. This is the quarter of Upodghāta in the middle section, the third quarter (in the Purāņa). 

23. I shall recount the fourth quarter viz. Upasamhāra (Conclusion) in the final section, the narration of Vaivasvata Manvantara precisely and in detail. 

24. What has been mentioned before is mentioned here succinctly; thereafter; the story of the future Manus. 

25. The specification of the Kalpas and the dissolution (then), thereafter the measurement of Time, then the fourteen worlds are mentioned along with their respective characteristics. 

26. The description of hells (attained) by impious activities, the narration of Manomayapura (City of Mind) and thereafter, the Pråkrutika Laya (Dissolution within Prakruti). 

27. Thereafter, the description of Shiva’s city. The three-fold goal of creatures, thanks to the contact with the Guņas, is described. 

28. Thereafter, the description by means of positive and negative assertions (i. e. invariable concomitance and logical discontinuance) of the Brahman, the great Atman, that is beyond specifications and argumentation. 

29. Thus the quarter section on Upasamhåra has been summarised. Thus the Brahmånda Purāņa comprising four quarters has been described to you. 

30-33a. O Brāhmaṇa, this Puråņa called Brahmanda is the eighteenth Purāņa, the most essential of all chief (Purāņas). What is originally composed of four hundred thousand verses has been narrated separately in eighteen books, O bestower of honour, by the sage Vyāsa the son of Parāśhara who is the real instructor of all the sages of purified souls. Those sages who by nature practise religious virtues and bless the wretched ones, heard these Purāņas from me and revealed them to the world, 

336-36a. Formerly, this Purāņa has been narrated by me to Vasişhtha; it was passed on by him to his son Shakti, by him it was recounted to Jätūkarnya. Then Vyåsa obtained it from the mouth of the Wind-God, making it authoritative in the world; he propagated this excellent Puràņa in the Public (the world). O dear one, whoever glorifies this and listens to it with great concentration, dispels all sins and attains the world devoid of ailments. 

366-37. He who writes out this Puraņa and gives it to a Brāhmaṇa after covering it with a cloth and placing it on a gold throne, attains the world of Brahman. No doubt need be entertained in this respect. 

38. O Marichi, these eighteen Purāṇas narrated briefly by me to you should be heard in full. 

39. The excellent man who listens to the eighteen Purāņas or narrates them in accordance with the injunctions, is not born here again. 

40. The Sūtra (summarised form) of the Purăņas which has been mentioned by me to you now, should be practised everyday by one who desires the benefit out of the Puráņas. 

41. This should not be narrated to any one who is arrogant, hypocrite, sinful, malicious to the Devas and preceptors, knavish or one who hates good men. 

42. It must be imparted to one who is quiescent, of tranquil mind, interested in service, devoid of indecent rivalry, is pure and is a good devotee of Vişhņu,