The Purana Index v1.c3.s7.3

v1.c3.s7.3

We have therefore to dismiss the theory of R. G. Bhandarkar and Pargiter as to the date of this Purāṇa, and there should be no hesitation in putting it down as a work of the 3rd century A.D. The reference to Viṣṇu Purāṇa in the Tamil classic of 2nd century A.D. must show, as has been already said, that it must have been composed some two or three centuries before. The Bhāgavata which follows the Viṣṇu Purāṇa in its major details, must be more or less in the neighbourhood of the date of the composition of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. It would not be then unreasonable to say that the Bhāgavatam was a work of the third century A.D.