Srimad Bhagavatam

by Kamala Subramaniam, G.D. Birla (Foreword)

About the is a summarized version of Mahapurana Srimad Bhagvatam. Though condensed the book carries all the important aspects. The author has done away with the ornamentation and decorations and has kept the hard core of the Mahapurana. She has brought out the essentials of Srimad Bhagavatam in a simple and appealing language. This book is a confluence of Bhakti yoga, karma yoga and Jnana yoga. More Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedic wisdom. This book-Bhagavat Purana is made up of ten sections. Various stories of Purana are told in this book. Krishna s story with the Mahabharat story in it is told in more detail than the others. The story of Pururavas and the celestial maid Urvashi, the story of King Trishanku who wanted to enter heaven with his earthly body, Yayati and Devyani s story, Dushyanta Shakuntala, and many others are told here.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, Hinduism, Mythology

790 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Ajay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great work of Srimad Bhagavatam by Kamala Subramaniam. Highly recommended. I have read this work as trilogy. Everyone should read this Srimad Bhagavatam, Ramayana and Mahabharata.

[Pranjal Goswami · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I learnt from the book:


The Lord's name
The following is taken from the Srimad Bhagwatam translated by Smt Kamala Subramaniam

The name of the Lord when spoken constantly by man is called Bhakti yoga - and that is said to be the easiest path to the Lord.It is the greatest dharma to be practised by man. By pronouncing it just once , see how Ajmaila was saved. Constant thought on the Lord is not just the destroyer of sins . It also grants Mukti , Moksha , release from the bondage called Karma . Those who are ever devoted to the Lord can be easily recognised. They will be even minded. They will not be troubled by the opposites. They will have tranquility and they are always protected by the armour which is the Lord's name.

[Matthew Bennett]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book for many years. I love to read the short but delightful stories before bed. Filled with ancient Vedic wisdom and pastimes in an easy to read style by this excellent author.

[Gautham Shenoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parikshita, the son of Abhimanyu, grandson of the pAndavas, the king of Hastinapura is cursed by a Brahmachari for an act of the king which the latter perceived as an insult to his Father. The curse was that the King would die in the next 7 days bitten by a snake. Parikshita in order to get over the fear of death and to gain the supreme state post death listens to the discourse narrated by Suka, son of Veda Vyasa himself. Suka in his narration tells Parikshita about the 24 incarnations of the Supreme God Vishnu and this forms the core of Srimad Bhagavatam.

In this translation Kamala Subramaniam has presented in simple terms the various stories described in the Bhagavatam. The translation is easy to read, and except for a few genealogies of great kings, it doesn't bore you down. For me it was refreshing to read this book since it brought back to my memory the hot summer afternoons when my grandmother used to narrate the stories from Bhagavatam sitting in the veranda of their house in a village.

I would recommend this book to any beginner who wants to get started with PuraNas.

[Rajesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A balm in pensive times, and a guardian in uncertain times. The Bhagavatham is a true experience. Full of wisdom in the form of parables, stories within stories, characters whose simplicity and relatable nature never fade, and expositions on spirituality, Vedic and Puranic thought that stays relevant in its own way today... This translation doesn't disappoint and those who interested in Puranic, Vedic or Epic Indian mythology will find this a great companion.

[Kumar Jagannath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kamala Subramaniam's written Mahabharatha is one of the best translated Mahabharatha an author has ever attempted. Its worth reading it and gaining a lot of unknown facts and knowledge from the Mahabharatha. I recommend everyone of those who are desirous to read the great epic. Hats off to her contribution in the field of literature.

[Srihari Sridharan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great work of literature!

Must have and must read for anyone in the path of spirituality! Recommended for style, content and ease of understanding. Smt. Kamala has written this to perfection.

[pranesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

♡Aum Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya♡

♡Aum Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya♡
kararavindena padaravindam mukharavinde vinivesayantam vatasya patrasya pute sayanam balam mukundam manasa smarami
♡Aum Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya♡

[Krishnakumar Kp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Excellent. This is the best thing that happened to me. Read it yourself and feel the experience. It's really worth your time. Only for those who believe in God and scriptures..

[Srinivas]

i have some time during my work so thought of reading a book.

[Vikramadith Raman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, novel-like rendition of an incredible collection of epics.

[Mukesh Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the book. If you are interested in Hindu way of thinking, this is a great book to start the journey..

[Savita Ramsumair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

A most touching retelling of this great Purana. May we experience the grace and bliss of Bhagwan Krishna while reading this great scripture.

[Allen O'Dell Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good translation of the classic purana. Kamala does leave out a lot, but the air of devotion in her writing is very compelling. I have read through this version several times and used it as a reference in my own writing. Kamala did us a great service in this translation and it deserves to be more widely known.

[Karunesh Bagal · Rating 5 out of 5]

really hats off to the author

[Venkat Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully engaging translation of Bhāgavata Purāṇa.

This Purāṇa was written to highlight Bhakti Yoga. While the other paths are not neglected, Bhakti does dominate.

Sri Ramakrishna said: “The best path for this age is bhaktiyoga, the path of bhakti prescribed by Nārada: to sing the name and glories of God" (Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Chapter 23).

Swami Vivekananda said: The ideal of Bhakti is worked out in detail in the Puranas. To understand Bhakti, we have got to understand these Puranas. Therein is the doctrine of Bhakti illustrated, re-illustrated, stated and restated, in the lives of saints and in the lives of kings. It seems to have been the duty of the Puranas to stand as illustrations for that great ideal of the beautiful, the ideal of Bhakti, and this is so much nearer to the ordinary man. Very few indeed are there who can understand and appreciate, far less live and move, in the grandeur of the full blaze of the light of Vedanta. The reason for the existence of the Puranas is the teaching of Bhakti to make religion practical, to bring religion from its high philosophical flights into the everyday lives of our common human beings (Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, 3.4.23)

A serious study of this book will result in spontaneous blossoming of Bhakti in anyone.

[Dr. Charu Panicker · Rating 1 out of 5]

മനുഷ്യജീവിതത്തിന്റെ ഒളിമങ്ങാത്ത കഥാവിഷ്‌കാരങ്ങളാണ് ഭാരതീയ ഇതിഹാസപുരാണങ്ങള്‍. ആധുനിക കഥാകൃത്തുക്കളെപ്പോലും അമ്പരപ്പിക്കുന്ന രീതിയില്‍ അവ മനുഷ്യരുടെ മാനസികവും സാമൂഹികവുമായ ജീവിതരഹസ്യങ്ങളെ കഥകളിലൂടെ പകര്‍ത്തിവെച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. ആധുനികകാലത്തെ വായനക്കാരന് ആസ്വാദ്യകരമാംവണ്ണം ഭാഗവതപുരാണകഥ പുനരാഖ്യാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു എന്നതാണ് ഈ ഗ്രന്ഥത്തിന്റെ പ്രത്യേകത. ഒരുപാട് രീതിയിൽ ആഖ്യാനിക്കാവുന്ന ഒന്നാണ് ഭാഗവതം. അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ ഏതു രീതിയിലായാലും ആസ്വാദ്യകരം തന്നെയാണ്. വലുപ്പം കൂടുതലായതിനാൽ മടുപ്പ് തോന്നാൻ സാധ്യതയുണ്ട്. ഭരതനിലാണ് തുടങ്ങുന്നതെങ്കിലും കൂടുതലും കൃഷ്ണനെയാണ് ഇതിൽ കാണാൻ കഴിയുക.

[Deepak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an essential part of religion/culture whatever you want to call it. The stories are also enjoyable. I don't agree with all the edicts/reasonings provided - but leaves you with a sense that there is a Higher Power and many of this Power's actions are not explained by the best of our efforts.

[Mark Norden · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a big book….with lots of fairly short interconnected ongoing stories….

I like to read a few pages a day, without any rush to finish the book

The translation is really good and the glossary makes it easier to understand

If you are looking for a book about avatars, in particular Krishna, and are in no rush, then this book is illuminating

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good collection of ancient tales about Hindu Mythology. The book is translated in a easy to read format which still preserves the intricacies and complexity of the original literature. Excellent resource on vedic mythology.

[Jon Harvell · Rating 5 out of 5]

highly recommend for anyone that's interested in this most holy scripture, for a Westerner this is superbly conveyed clearly while also conveying the deeper and more devotional elements of the life of Sri Krishna.

[Kinnera Koduri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great summarised version of the Srimad Bhagavatam. It simplifies it, yet the deep philosophical and theological aspects are still intact. It’s great for beginners