BHĀGAVATA-PURĀṆA

SAN 330/384S Prof. Don Davis

University of Texas at Austin Department of Asian Studies
Spring 2016 WCH 4.114
WCH 4.118 drdj@austin.utexas.edu
MW 10-11:30 Office Hours: MW 9-10 and by appt.

Course Description & Goals

The focus of the course is the famous Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, a massive collection of stories
and theologies of Vaiṣṇava Hinduism, especially those centered on the figure of Kṛṣṇa. The
course consists of selected readings from the tenth book or canto of the text, which contains a
theological biography of Kṛṣṇa. The goal of the course is to provide students with both broad
and deep knowledge of the text sufficient for further self-study, interpretation, and teaching.
Secondary readings will enhance students’ understanding of the text and its significance
within Sanskrit intellectual, literary, and religious histories.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

 read the Sanskrit of Purāṇas comfortably with a dictionary
 explain all the grammatical forms of Sanskrit encountered in the readings
 recount the story of Kṛṣṇa in the Bhāgavata, including details and nuance for the
selections read in class
 describe, analyze, and contextualize major theological positions and claims of the text

Requirements & Grading

Students are expected to read the assigned selections and prepare both grammatical analyses
and a translation for each class day. Daily preparation is the major requirement for the course.
Regular class attendance is thus mandatory. We will try to cover 12 verses per day.

Grading

50% Regular Class Attendance and Preparation

20% Take-home Mid-term Exam
30% Final Exam (undergrad) or Paper (grad)

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Grading Scale

A 93-100 B- 80-83 D+ 67-70

A- 90-93 C+ 77-80 D 63-67
B+ 87-90 C 73-77 D- 60-63
B 83-87 C- 70-73 F 0-60

Optional Textbook (all required materials available on Canvas)

Bryant, Edwin. 2003. Krishna: the Beautiful Legend of God. New York: Penguin. [a solid, easily
available translation of the tenth book of the Bhāgavata]

University Policies

Honor Code: The core values of UT Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership,
individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to
uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and
community.

Scholastic Dishonesty and Academic Integrity: Any work submitted by a student in this course
for academic credit will be the student's own work. Students who violate University rules on
academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in
the course and/or dismissal from the University. “Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not
limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to
give unfair academic advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to, submission of
essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the
instructor, providing false or misleading information in an effort to receive a postponement or
an extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment), or the attempt to commit such an act. For
further information please visit the Student Judicial Services Web site:
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/.

Documented Disability Statement: UT Austin provides upon request appropriate academic

accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact
Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone) or
http://ddce.utexas.edu/disability/.

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Religious Observance Days: By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence
at least fourteen days prior to the date of religious observance. If you must miss a class, an
examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious day, I will give you
an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.

Class Schedule
(subject to changes)

Aug 24 Introduction to the Bhāgavata and its significance

Aug 29 10.1 Intro to Book Ten: Kṛṣṇa’a Incarnation
Reading: Bryant, “Introduction,” Krishna: Beautiful Legend of God
Aug 31 cont.
Sep 7 cont.
Reading: Hopkins, “The Social Teaching of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa”
Sep 12 cont.
Sep 14 cont.
Sep 19 10.6 The Slaying of Pūtanā
Reading: van Buitenen, “On the Archaism of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa”
Sep 21 cont.
Sep 26 cont.
Sep 28 cont.
Oct 3 10.8-20-45 Kṛṣṇa’s Mischief
Oct 5 cont.
Oct 10 10.22.1-27 Stealing the Gopīs’ clothes
Oct 12 cont.
Oct 17 10.25 Lifting Mt. Govardhana; MID-TERM EXAM DUE IN CLASS
Oct 19 cont.
Oct 24 10.29 Rāsa-līlā, beginning
Oct 26 cont.
Oct 31 cont.
Nov 2 cont.
Nov 7 cont.
Nov 9 10.33-28-39 Rāsa-līlā, conclusion.
Nov 14 10.74 The Slaying of Śiśupāla

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Nov 16 cont.
Nov 21 cont.
Nov 28 cont.
Nov 30 cont.
Dec 5 cont.

FINAL EXAM DUE BY NOON ON DECEMBER 12th