Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t12.11

v2.c10.s3.t12.11

5. **Bhagavata Purana** (also known as Sukhasagara), has about 18,000 verses and is the most widespread Puranic text in India, consisting of 12 sections, which are subdivided into chapters. The first section begins with an account of merits and virtues of Vishnu, mentions 24 avatars of Vishnu, and then describes the situation after the great battle as told in the *Mahabharata*. The second section describes the creation of the world and avatars of Vishnu. The third section praises Krishna, and tells in details the creation of the world and two avatars of Vishnu. The fourth section describes the genealogy of the first Manu, tales of Shiva, and legends of pole star and stories of some pious Vishnu prominent place in this text and many tales are closely related to the *Mahabharata*, including the tale of Goddess Durga killing the demon, which is included in the book at later times. Like other Puranic texts, it also describes seven states, Manu periods, castes, life and death, heaven, hell, morality and rites.