Srimad Bhagavatam Stories

These are just a few handpicked stories from the Srimad Bhagavatam to inspire young readers. The Bhagavatam is a vast, sacred text with many more wonderful tales. This collection is not complete, but a gentle invitation to discover its world of devotion and wisdom.

Canto 1: Creation (Adhikarana)

  1. Birth and lineage of Vyasa, compiling the Vedas

  2. Narada’s Instructions to Vyasa; Story of Narada’s previous life

  3. Departure of Pandavas; Yudhishthira's coronation

  4. Bhishma’s Instructions and Passing

  5. Story of Parikshit’s birth, coronation and reign

  6. Appearance of Kali Yuga Cow and bull allegory (Dharma and Earth)

  7. Parikshit’s curse by Sage Shringi

Canto 2: Cosmic Manifestation

  1. Universal Form (Virat Purusha) described

  2. Meditation on the Lord and Cosmic Form

  3. Glories of chanting Krishna’s name

  4. Creation by Brahma (beginning of cosmology)

  5. Prayers of Brahma to Vishnu

  6. Process of creation explained

  7. Brahma’s vision of Vaikuntha

Canto 3: The Status Quo

  1. Vidura’s pilgrimage and meeting Maitreya

  2. Birth of Devahuti and marriage to Kardama

  3. Story of Kapila Muni (Kapila Gita)

  4. Creation, Manus, and Swayambhuva Manu

  5. Prachetas’ penance

  6. Birth of Varaha (Boar) Avatar and slaying of Hiranyaksha

  7. The story of Dhruva Maharaja

  8. Teachings of Lord Kapila to Devahuti

Canto 4: The Creation of the Fourth Order

  1. Story of King Uttanapada and Dhruva

  2. Dhruva’s penance, meeting Lord Vishnu

  3. Dhruva’s reign and departure

  4. Story of King Anga and Vena

  5. Birth of Prithu (first King, avatar of Vishnu)

  6. Prithu’s activities and milking the earth

  7. Story of Prithu’s sacrifice

  8. Prachetas and the birth of Daksha

  9. Daksha’s yajna and Shiva’s anger

Canto 5: The Creative Impetus

  1. Rishabha Deva’s teachings and renunciation

  2. Story of King Bharata (three lives: as King, deer, and Jada Bharata)

  3. Description of Jambudvipa and the universe

Canto 6: The Duties of Man

  1. The story of Ajamila and the power of the holy name

  2. The story of Chitraketu and the death of his son

  3. Chitraketu’s conversation with the sages and Lord Shiva

  4. The story of Diti and birth of Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu

  5. Description of the administrative structure of the universe

Canto 7: The Science of God

  1. Story of Hiranyakashipu and Prahlada (Narasimha Avatar)

  2. Prahlada’s teachings to his friends

Canto 8: Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations

  1. Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean)

  2. Kurma Avatar (Tortoise)

  3. Story of Gajendra Moksha (the Elephant King)

  4. Story of Vamana Avatar and Bali Maharaj

  5. Matsya Avatar (the Fish)

  6. Stories of different Manus

  7. Deliverance of Indra by Lord Vamana

  8. Destruction of the universe and cosmic cycles

Canto 9: Liberation

  1. Stories of King Ambarisha

  2. King Harishchandra

  3. King Sagara and the birth of Ganga

  4. Shri Rama and the Ikshvaku dynasty

  5. Dynasty of Yadu and Krishna’s ancestors

Canto 10: The Summum Bonum (The Glories of Krishna)

This canto contains the life and pastimes of Krishna, the most detailed and beloved portion.

  1. Birth of Krishna in Mathura

  2. Transfer to Gokul and childhood pastimes (Makhan Chor, killing demons)

  3. Govardhan Leela, lifting the Govardhan Hill

  4. Rasa Leela and divine love with Gopis

  5. Uddhava’s message to the Gopis

  6. Kamsa’s atrocities and death

  7. Krishna’s youth, Dwarka pastimes

  8. Kurukshetra Yatra

  9. Liberation of Putana

  10. Liberation of Trinavarta 

  11. Liberation of Bakasura 

  12. Liberation of Aghasura

  13. Meeting with Sudama

  14. Bhrigu’s test

  15. Rukmini’s marriage

  16. The Syamantaka jewel

  17. Krishna’s role in Mahabharata

  18. End of Yadava dynasty & its connection to Shri Jagannath Nabakalebara

Canto 11: General History

  1. Uddhava Gita (Krishna’s instructions to Uddhava)

  2. Destruction of the Yadava dynasty

  3. Krishna’s final instructions and departure

  4. Teachings of the Avadhuta Brahmana

  5. The twenty-four gurus of the Avadhuta

  6. Stories of Markandeya, the Pracetas

  7. Manifestations of yoga and bhakti

Canto 12: The Age of Deterioration

  1. Predictions about Kali Yuga

  2. The decline of Dharma

  3. Markandeya’s vision of Pralaya

  4. Dynasties after Krishna’s departure

  5. Short accounts of future kings

  6. Summary of the Bhagavatam

  7. The glories and fruits of reading Bhagavatam

  8. Vyasa’s conclusion and benediction