The Ten Subjects of

Srimad Bhagavatam
The 18 Major Puranas

1. Bhāgavata,
2. Vishnu,
3. Padma,
4. Nārada,
5. Garuda,
6. Varāha,

7. Vāmana,
8. Mārkandeya,
9. Brahmā,
10. Bhavishya,
11. Brahma-vaivarta,
12. Brahmānda
13. Matsya,
14. Kūrma
15. Lińga,
16. Skanda,
17. Agni,
18. Śiva,

Sattvic Tamasic
Rajasic
 10 Subjects
of Srimad
Bhagavatam

atra sargo visargaś ca

sthānam poshanam ūtayah
manvantareśānukathā
nirodho muktir āśrayah
[SB 2.10.1 by Sukadeva
Goswami]
10 characteristic topics of a Purāna [SB 12.7.9-
10] by Suta Goswami
sargo 'syātha visargaś ca
vritti-rakshāntarāni ca
vamśo vamśānucarītam
samsthā hetur apāśrayah

daśabhir lakshanair yuktam

purānam tad-vido viduh
kecit pañca-vidham brahman
mahad-alpa-vyavasthayā

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī → Purānas such as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam deal

with these ten topics, whereas lesser Purānas deal with only five.
 Srimad Bhagavatam
~ Krsna’s Body
padau yadiyau prathama dvitiyau
tritiya turyau kathitau yad uru
nabhis tatha pancama eva sasto
bhujantaram dor yugalam tathanyau
kanthas tu rajan navamo yadiyo
mukharavindam dasamam praphullam
ekadasau yasya lalatha pattam
siro pi tu dvadasa eva bati
tam adi devam karuna nidhanam
tamala varnam suhitavataram
apara samsara samudra setum
bhajamehe bhagavata svarupam
[Padma Purana]
 SB
Can
3&4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1&2 to
Lotu Thig Navel Ches Arms Arms Thro Lotu Fore Head
s hs t at s head
Feet
Intro Sarg Stha Posa Uti- Manv Isanu Face
Asray Mukt Nirod
ducti a, na- na- Desc antar kath a- i- ha-
on & Visar The Lord’ riptio a- a- Lord Liber Four
at ga- geog s n of the Topic Krish ation kinds
least Creat raphy prote inaus dyna s na’s , of
Sarg ion of ction picio sties relat pasti whic unive
a, by the to us of ed to mes h rsal
Visar Lord, unive the inclin Manu the in takes annih
ga & subs rse. peopl ation s& Lord’ Vrind shelt alati
Posh eque Desc e (üti) activi s avan, er of on,
ana nt riptio who & ties devot Math Lord’ liber
However…
All 10 topics in all 12 cantos of SB
One should not
Try to assign each of the ten topics to a
particular canto.
Artificially interpret SB to show that it
deals with the topics successively.
- Jiva Goswami

All aspects of knowledge

important to human beings,
summarized in 10
categories, are described
with various degrees of
emphasis and analysis
throughout the Śrīmad-
Bhāgavatam.
Specialty of 10th Canto

daśamasya viśuddhy-artham
navānām iha lakshanam
varnayanti mahātmānah
śrutenārthena cāñjasā
[SB 2.10.2]

All 9 topics are explained to

bring the reader to the 10th
topic – Asraya.
 1. SARGA

bhūta-mātrendriya-dhiyām
janma sarga udāhritah

The elementary creation of

items of matter
5 elements – fire, water,
land, air and sky
5 tanmatras – Sound, form,
taste, smell, touch
10 senses
Mind, mahat-tattva,
ahankara.
 Karana såñöi
MAHA VISNU
(Lord’s Svamsa – His glace impregnates jivas into
S S Material Nature)
Sound Ether
• Kala
enses enses
Devata
• Karma
E D MATERIAL
• Svabhava NATURE/ Pradhana
ar ig Devata Air Touch •3 modes are inactive – in undifferentiated/
E S unmixed state
yes urya
S V Form Fire
kin ayu MAHAT TATTVA
N A • Mahat tattva (in sattva)
ose swini • Sutra Tattva (in rajas)
Water Taste
Kumars
T V
ongue aruna AHANKARA (predominantly in tamas)
H I Smell Earth
• Goodness
ands ndra • Passion
F U • Ignorance
Karta Karana Karya
eet pendra
V 23 elements:
(Doer) (Cause) (Effect)
A Jnana Kriya Dravya
Mahat-tattva,
oice gni ahaìkära, 5 tan- Sakti Sakti Sakti
Adhidaiva Adhyatma Adhibhuta
mätras,
A 5 gross
M elements, 11
nus itra
senses
G
in unmixed
P
state
Mind & Prana, 10 5
enitals rajapati 10 Sense Senses, tanmatras
devatas Intelligenc &
e 5
Karya såñöi
23 elements [Mahat-tattva,
ahankara, 5 tan-matras, 5 gross
elements, 11 senses in unmixed
state]

Assembly happens by Lord’s

Maya Sakti

After 1000 yrs of inactivity

Garbhodakasayi Visnu enters the
universe & enlivens it.

He then expands into the Virat

rupa
 SARGA in SB

 Second Canto chapters 5 &

6 through conversation of
Brahma & Narada.

 Third Canto Chapters 5 to

11.
 2. VISARGA

brahmano guna-vaishamyād
visargah paurushah smritah

Subsequent resultant
interaction of modes –
Brahmā’s work in producing
the moving and unmoving
bodies in the universe
 VISARGA in SB

2nd Canto chapters 5 & 6

through conversation of
Brahma & Narada.
3rd Canto chapters 12 & 20
4th Canto full
5th Canto (1-15)
 3. STHANA

sthitir vaikuntha-
vijayah

Maintenance of the
universe - inhabitants
of the Bhuloka, Patala
and heavenly planets

Canto 5.16-26
Jambudvipa Boar
Uttarakuru Inhabitants
Srngavan
Hiranmaya varsa Kurma Aryama
Sveta

Ramyaka varsa Matsya Manu

Nila

Gandhamadana
Sankarshana
Ketumala

Malyavan

Bhadrasva
Cupid, Hrishikesa Ilavrita Hayasirsha,
Laxmi & DGs Siva Bhadrasrava, s/o Dharmaraja
Nishada
Hari varsa Narasimha Prahlada

Hemakuta
Kimpurusha Rama Inhabitants

Himalaya
Nara Narayana Narada
Bharata
 Lokaloka mountain range
Golden
Golden Land Mt.
Mt. Lokaloka
Lokaloka

ss
Land

iliele
mm
nn
ioio
ilill
11BB
Inhabited
Inhabited land
land Aloka
Aloka varsa
varsa

Sweet Drinking Water

ss
iilele
mm
nn
ioio
ilill
11BB
Vibhavari
Manasottara
(Residence of moon god)
Puskara Dvipa mountain range
(Brahma) Emulsified
202,800,000
202,800,000 miles
miles
Yogurt

Saka Dvipa (Vayu) 202,800,000

202,800,000 miles
miles

Milk

Kraunca Dvipa (Varuna)

Clarified Butter
126,000,000
126,000,000 miles
miles
Kusa Dvipa (Agni)

Liquor

Salmali Dvip (Soma)

Nimloca Deva Dhama
Sugarcane Juice
(Residence of (Residence of
Varuna) Indra)

Jambu Dvipa Salt water

Plaksa Dvipa (Sun)

 00
26,200,000 Yojana to Beginning covering of universe

100

x
o- Satyaloka

00
eg

00
e

10
ls

19

x
Fa

d-

0
120,000,000 Yojana
00
in
M

10
r-
x Tapoloka
00
he
Et

10 0x 80,000,000 Yojana
r- 10 233,800,000 Yojana
Ai - x
re 10 260,200,000 Yojana Janaloka
Fi e r-
at -x 20,000,000 Yojana
W
a rth
E Maharloka
10,000,000 Yojana
Dhruva
1,300,000 Yojana

7 Stars Lokaloka Mountain Range

1,100,000 Yojana
Brahman & Vaikuntha Planets Saturn
Spiritual World 200,000 Yojana
Jupiter
200,000 Yojana
Mars
200,000 Yojana Svargaloka
Mercury
200,000 Yojana 3,800,000 Yojana
Venus
200,000 Yojana
Total Height/ Width of Universe
From Top to Bottom 28 nakshtras
200,000 Yojana
510,000,000 Yojana (0.1 X)
Moon
200,000 Yojana
Sun
10,000 Yojana
Bhuvarloka
Siddhas, Vidyadharas, Caranas 10,000 Yojana Rahu
100,000 Yojana
79,900 Yojana Mt. Manasottara
Yaksas, Raksas
100 Yojana
Bhumandala
26,000 Yojana
Atala 10,000 Yojana 1/4 Radius Of Inner Shell
Vitala 10,000 Yojana =127,500,000 Yojana or
Sutala 10,000 Yojana 1 Billion miles
Talatala 10,000 Yojana
130,000 Yojana Mahatala 10,000 Yojana
to Garbodaka Ocean Rasatala 10,000 Yojana Pitraloka
Patalaloka 10,000 Yojana
30,000 Yojana
Hellish Planets

Depth of Garbhodaka Ocean

249,800,000 Yojana
 4. POSHANA

poshanam tad-
anugrahah

Special care and

protection for
devotees by the Lord.

Canto 6 – Ajamila,
Indra, Citraketu.
POSHANA
 5. UTI

ūtayah karma-vāsanāh

The impetus for activity

is the desire for fruitive
work.
Subject matter of SB Canto 7: Uti

Uti
(inclination)

Devotee
s
Inauspicious, Auspicious,
arising from of arising from Suddha- Misra
Demons’ anger Devotees’ bhaktas bhaktas
mercy
Ex: Ex: Prahlada Karma- Jnana- Bhakti
Hiranyakasipu (Caused by misra- misra- misra
(Caused by anger Narada’s bhaktas bhaktas jnanis
of 4 Kumaras)
mercy)
 6. MANVANTARA

manvantarāni sad-dharma
Manus & their laws are meant to give right direction in life.

manvantaram manur devā

manu-putrāh sureśvarāh
rshayo 'mśāvatārāś ca
hareh shad-vidham ucyate
Many incarnations of SPG in a Manvantara – (i) Manu,
(ii) demigods, (iii) manu-putras, (iv) king of heavenly planets,
(v) 7 great sages, (vi) incarnation of Lord.

SB Canto 8 – 14 manvantaras

The System of Universal Management

 Who choses Manus and others? – Manus and others are

chosen by resepective manvantara incarnations.
 Duties of sages: At end of yuga cycle, great sages re-establish
religious principles.
 Duties of Manus: Manus establish occupational duties as per
instructions of Lord.
 Duties of sons of manu & demigods: To enjoy the results of
sacrifices.
 Duties of Indra: Receiving benedictions from Lord, enjoys
opulences and maintains jiva with rain.
 First 4 Manvantaras

Ca
8.1.17-30 8.5.1-10
nto 8
Man
1 2 3 4 5 6
vantara
Man Svay Svär Utta Täm Raiv Cäk
u ambhuva ociña ma (S/o asa (Uttama’s ata (Tämasa’s ñuña
(S/o Agni) Priyavrata) brother) brother) (S/o Cakñu)
Utta Dyu Pav 10 Arju Püru
Man sons – Påthu,
napada & mat, Suñeëa, ana, Såïjaya & na, Bali , Püruña &
u-puträù Khyäti, Nara &
Priyavrata Rociñmat... Yajïahotra Vindhya... Sudyumna...
Ketu..
Saty
as, Vedaçrutas Saty
Dev Yäm Tuñi & Bhadras Bhüt Äpy
akas, Haris &
äù (Demigods) as... ta... Saty Véras. arayas as
avratas,
Vaidhåtis
Sura Yajï Roc Saty Triçi Vibh Man
-éçvaräù a ana (s/o Yajïa) ajit kha u tradruma
(Indra)
Åña Pra Hea Hira
Mar Ürja mada & other ëyaromä, Havi
yaù (chief ded by
éci... , Stambha... sons of ñmän & Véraka
sages) Jyotirdhäma. Vedaçirä,
Vasiñöha Ürdhvabähu
Aàç Vibh Saty Vaik Ajita
u (S/o Åñi Hari
a-avatäräù Kapi asena (S/o uëöha (S/o
Vedaçirä + (S/o Hariëé +
(Lord’s la, Yajïa Dharma + Çubhra + (S/o Vairäja +
Tuñitä Harimedhä)
invarnation) Sünåtä) Vikuëöhä) Devasambhüti)
brahmacari)
Saty Prod
Prea To
asena (+ uced nectar for
ching religion 88,0 please GoF, He
Satyajit) killed DGs by
& knowledge; 00 saints took Sav created
 Manvantaras 7-10
Ru Ma Man Activi I De 7
ling Manu nuputras vantara- ties of the Lord ndra migods Sages
avatara
7 Çr 10 Väm He P Äd Ka
äddhadeva sons: ana, the took 3 worlds urandara, ityas, Vasus, çyapa, Atri,
S/o headed by dwarf, s/o from Bali as a s/o Rudras, Vasiñöha,
Vivasvän & Ikñväku Kaçyapa & gift of 3 paces Kasyapa Viçvedevas, Viçvämitra,
Saàjïä Aditi. of land & gave & Aditi Maruts, 2 Gautama,
it to Purandara. Açviné- Jamadagni
kumäras & &
8 Sä Nir Särv He BÅbhus Su Bharadväja
Gä
varëi, s/o moka & abhauma, s/o will take the ali tapäs, lava,
Vivasvan & Virajaska Devaguhya & kingdom away Mahäräja, Virajas & Déptimän,
Chäyä Sarasvaté from Purandara sAmåtaprabh Paraçuräma
and give it to /o as ,
Bali Mahäräja. Virocana Açvatthämä
,
Kåpäcärya,
Åñyaçåìga
&
9 Da Bh Åña He A Pä Vyäsadeva
He
kña-sävarëi, ütaketu & bhadeva, s/o will enable dbhuta ras & aded by
s/o Varuëa Déptaketu Äyuñmän & Indra to enjoy MarécigarbhDyutimän
Ambudhärä the prosperity as
of 3 worlds.
1 Br Bh Viñv He Ç Su he
 Manvantaras 11-14

R Ma Manv Act I Dem 7

uling nuputras antara- ivities of ndra igods Sages
Manu avatara the Lord
1 D 10 Dhar He V Viha h
1 harma- sons masetu, s/o will protect aidhåta ìgamas, eaded by
sävarëi headed by Äryaka & the 3 Kämagamas, Aruëa
Satyadharm Vaidhåtä worlds. Nirväëarucis
a
1 R Dev Svad - Å Hari T
2 udra- avän, hämä, s/o tadhämä tas apomürti,
sävarëi Upadeva & Sunåtä & Tapasvé
Devaçreñöh Satyasahä &
a Ägnédhra
ka
1 D Citr Yoge He D Suk N
3 eva- asena & çvara, s/o will ivaspati armäs & irmoka &
sävarëi Vicitra Devahotra & perform Suträmas Tattvadar
Båhaté activities ça
for the
welfare of
1 I Uru Båha Divaspati.
He Ç Pavi A
4 ndra- , Gambhéra dbhänu, s/o will spread uci tras & gni, Bähu,
 Manus & SB Events
Manu SB Events
1 SB 2.5-7, SB 2.9, SB 3.6-13, 3.20-33, SB 4.1-31,
SB 5.1–15
4 SB 8.1-4
5 SB 3.15-16
6 SB 3.13-14, SB 3.16-19, SB 6.4-6, SB 6.18-19,
SB 7.2-10, SB 8.5-9, SB 8.24
7 SB 1.1-4, SB 1.7-19, SB 2.1-4, SB 2.8, SB 2.10,
SB 3.1-5, SB 6.7-17, SB 7.1, SB 7.11-15, SB 8.10-23, SB
9.1-24, SB 10, SB 11, SB 12.1-11
Previo SB 1.5-6
us Kalpa
Purani SB 6.1-3
c Stories
Univer SB 5.16-26, SB 12.11
se
 7. ISANUKATHA

avatārānucaritam
hareś cāsyānuvartinām
pumsām īśa-kathāh proktā
nānākhyānopabrimhitāh

Descriptions of the Lord’s pastimes

with His associates during His
incarnations in this world.
 ISANUKATHA in SB: Canto 9

Isanukatha is told with to

propagate bhakti, vijnana
& vairagya.
Ex: Ambarisha, Yayati,
Sun dynasty & Moon
dynasty.
 8. NIRODHA

nirodho 'syānuśayanam
ātmanah saha śaktibhih

The merging of the living entity,

along with his conditional living
tendency, with the mystic lying
down of the Mahā-Vishnu is
called the winding up of the
cosmic manifestation.

Nirodha in SB –
Cantos 10, 11 & 12
 4 Types of NIRODHA

1. Naimittikah — Occasional dissolution

 During Brahmā’s night – 3 planetary systems are subject to
destruction.
2. Prākritikah — Elemental dissolution
 After Brahma’s life – basic elements of creation are
annihilated.
3. Nityah — Continuous dissolution
 All created beings constantly undergo
 4. Atyantikah — Ultimate dissolution
 False ego cut off by sword of knowledge
 9. MUKTI

muktir hitvānyathā rūpam

sva-rūpena vyavasthitih

Liberation is the permanent

situation of the form of the living
entity after he gives up the
changeable gross and subtle
material bodies.

Mukti in SB → Canto 11
Nirodha & Mukti

2 types of living entities.

1. Nitya-muktas
2. Nitya baddhas → ever-conditioned souls are apt to develop a
mentality of lording over material nature

1. So, material cosmic creation is manifested to give the ever-

conditioned souls 2 kinds of facilities.
1. Conditioned soul can act according to his tendency to lord it
over the cosmic manifestation. (nirodha – annihilation)
• Conditioned soul gets a chance to come back to Godhead
(mukti – liberation).
Mukti is also a type of Nirodha
 10. ĀŚRAYA

ābhāsaś ca nirodhaś ca
yato 'sty adhyavasīyate
sa āśrayah param brahma
paramātmeti śabdyate

The supreme one who is

celebrated as the Supreme Being
or the Supreme Soul is the
supreme source of the cosmic
manifestation as well as its
reservoir and winding up. Thus
He is the Supreme Fountainhead,
the Absolute Truth.
KRISHNA – ĀŚRAYA

 janmādy asya yatah...

 aham sarvasya prabhavo...
 vadanti tat tattva-vidas...

 Bhagavān ultimately means

Lord Krishna because SB has
already accepted SPG as
Krishna. Krishnas tu
bhagavān svayam.

 To explain Krishna or the

science of Krishna, SB has
been prepared.
 ‘‘ KRISHNA is SPG ” in SB

C Topic of Ashraya (Krishna) emphasized

anto
1 Q & A between Suta & sages. 1.1-4
2 Full, especially Catuh sloki;
3 Brahma samhita; Brahma’s prayers
4
5 As the manvantaras of Svayambhuva & Cakshusa
6are changing from Canto 3 to 7
7
8 Indirectly in Vivasvata manvantara
9 The very purport of Canto 9
1
0
The complete subject matter is elaborately explained
1
1
 ‘‘ KRISHNA is SPG ” in SB

It is concluded
by studying the complete Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that
Lord Śrī Krishna is the ultimate summum bonum, or the
ultimate source of all energy.

And according to the grades of worshipers, the

indications of the nomenclature may be differently
explained as Nārāyana, Brahmā, Paramātmā, etc.
 ĀŚRAYA is KRISHNA

The Transcendence, the summum bonum, from whom

everything emanates, upon whom everything rests, and
in whom everything merges after annihilation. He is the
source and support of all.

Śrī Krishna is this āśraya, and therefore

the greatest necessity of life is
to study the science of Krishna.
 Purpose of all 9 topics is to
direct us to Asraya

Real purpose in describing the characteristics of the first nine

topics by prayers, and also by indirect and direct explanations
– is to give us systematic, lucid knowledge of the 10th topic.
 Direct explanations → Vidura - Maitreya samvada & Kapila –
Devahüti samvada.
 Indirect explanations → historical episodes, like Parikshit saved,
Sukadeva captivated by hearing Krsna’s attributes.
 Understanding 9 Topics first
qualifies us to approach 10th
topic

Other topics are but descriptions of the Supreme Lord’s

manifold potencies (Ex: Creative potency – sarga sakti)
First understand His as possessor of potencies, then
apprehend His personal features & pastimes in 10th canto
Without studying the 9 preliminary topics, we run the risk of
viewing His form & pastimes superficially, of concluding that
Krnsa is an ordinary human being endowed with some
extraordinary powers.
 Avajananti mam mudha…
Study SB in the order Sukadeva presented it, from a guru
 Naham prakasa sarvasya…
 Yasya deve para bhaktir…
 10 topics are NOT presented in
strict sequence

Strict correspondence between the Bhägavatam’s topics

and cantos is absent.
Virtually every canto touches on all ten topics, either
directly or indirectly.
 10 topics of SB listed by
Sukadeva Goswami & Suta Goswami
Sukadeva Suta Gosvämi Meaning
Gosvämi
SARGA SARGA Primary
Creation
VISARGA VISARGA Secondary
Creation
STHANAM VRITTI Maintenance

POSHANA RAKSHA Sustinence

ÜTI HETU Inclination
MANV-ANTARA ANTARA Reigns of Manus
ISANUKATAHA VAMSA, Activities of Lord
VAMSANUCARITA & Devotees
NIRODHA SAMSTHA Annihilation
MUKTI SAMSTHA Liberation
ASRAYA APASRAYA The Supreme
Essentially both are same Shelter
 Maha Purana Vs. Lesser Purana

A Maha purana deals with 10 topics, A lesser purana deals with

only 5 topics
In the course of discussing 5 topics, a lesser Purana will discuss all
10 topics of a Maha-purana, but will treat only these five in depth.

Topics of lesser Purana Maha purana

1. Sarga Sarga, Visarga,
Äçraya
2. Pratisarga Nirodha, Mukti
3. Vaàça Éçänukathä
4. Manv-antara Manv-antara,
Sthänam
5. Vamçänucaritam Éçänukathä, Poñaëa,
Üti, Äçraya
 Canto 1 & 2 are very much a part
of Srimad Bhagavatam

Not mere introduction only

They cover at least sarga, visarga & poshana
If the first two cantos are not really part of SB, then what
remains no longer meets the criteria for being the
Bhägavatam.
 All 10 subjects in all 12 cantos

Subject Cantos primarily

discussed in
SARGA 2, 3
VISARGA 2, 3, 4
STHANAM 3, 7, 11*
POSHANA throughout
ÜTI 3, 11
MANV-ANTARA 8 & other places
ISANUKATAHA 4, 9
NIRODHA 11, 12
MUKTI 11, 12
ASRAYA 10
Ref: Çréla Jéva Gosvämé in Sarva-saàvädiné
 Canto 1 & 2 are very much a part
of Srimad Bhagavatam

Ultimate purpose of SB is to explain the 1oth subject,

asraya, Krsna. It is therefore illogical to expect that the
SB will deal with the other 9 subjects strictly
successively, as if presenting mathematical theorems.
 10 topics in SB 1.1.1

 janmädy asya yataù → sarga, visarga, sthäna,

nirodha

 tene
brahma hådä ya ädi-kavaye →
Manvantara, éçänukathä, poñaëa

 muhyanti yat sürayaù → Uti

 nirasta-kuhakaà dhämnä → Mukti

 satyaà param → Açraya

Thank You