Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 3 • CHAPTER 17
Ch 17 Verse 1-3 Verse
Sanskrit Text
३.१७ सप्तदशोऽध्यायः । विश्वामित्रकथोत्तरं राजपुत्रस्य कामबीजप्राप्तिवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य मुनेस्तत्रावनीपतिः । मन्त्रिवृद्धं समाहूय पप्रच्छ तमतन्द्रितः ॥ १ ॥ किं कर्तव्यं सुबुद्धेऽत्र मयाऽद्य वद सुव्रत । बलान्नयामि तां कामं सपुत्राञ्च सुभाषिणीम् ॥ २ ॥ रिपुरल्पोऽपि नोपेक्ष्यः सर्वथा शुभमिच्छता । राजयक्ष्मेव संवृद्धो मृत्यवे परिकल्पयेत् ॥ ३ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing thus the words of the Maharṣi Bhāradvāja and seeing that he made a firm resolve, the King Yudhājit called his prime minister quickly and asked, “O intelligent one! What am I to do now? I want to carry away by force this boy with his mother sweet Manoramā; no one desirous of one’s welfare won’t trifle away his enemy, be he even a very weak one; if he does so, that enemy will get stronger day by day, as the disease consumption becomes stronger; and will ultimately become the cause of death.
Ch 17 Verse 4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नात्र सैन्यं न योद्धास्ति यो मामत्र निवारयेत् । गृहीत्वा हन्मि तं तत्र दौहित्रस्य रिपुं किल ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
There is no warrior, nor any soldiers here of the other party; no one will be able to resist me; I can take away, as I like, the enemy of my daughter’s son and can kill him.
Ch 17 Verse 5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
निष्कण्टकं भवेद्राज्यं यताम्यद्य बलादहम् । हते सुदर्शने नूनं निर्भयोऽसौ भवेदिति ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
I will try to-day to carry him away by force, and Sudarśana being killed, my daughter’s son will reign fearlessly without an enemy; there in no doubt in this.”
Ch 17 Verse 6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रधान उवाच । साहसं न हि कर्तव्यं श्रुतं राजन् मुनेर्वचः । विश्वामित्रस्य दृष्टान्तः कथितस्तेन मारिष ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
The prime minister said :-- No such hazardous courage need be shewn now; you have heard the Maharshi’s words; he quoted you the example of Viśvāmitra.
Ch 17 Verse 7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पुरा गाधिसुतः श्रीमान्विश्वामित्रोऽतिविश्रुतः । विचरन्स नृपश्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठाश्रममभ्यगात् ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
O King! In days of yore, Viśvāmitra, the son of the King Gādhi, was a celebrated monarch; one day while roaming, he accidentally reached the hermitage of Vaśiṣṭha.
Ch 17 Verse 8 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नमस्कृत्य च तं राजा विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान् । उपविष्टो नृपश्रेष्ठो मुनिना दत्तविष्टरः ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
The powerful king Viśvāmitra bowed down before the Muni, and the Muni gave him a seat. The king took his seat there.
Ch 17 Verse 9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
निमन्त्रितो वसिष्ठेन भोजनाय महात्मना । ससैन्यश्च स्थितो राजा गाधिपुत्रो महायशाः ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
Then the high souled Vaśiṣṭha invited the king to a dinner. Viśvāmitra, the king, went there with his whole army.
Ch 17 Verse 10-12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नन्दिन्याऽऽसादितं सर्वं भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकं च यत् । भुक्त्वा राजा ससैन्यश्च वाञ्छितं तत्र भोजनम् ॥ १० ॥ प्रतापं तञ्च नन्दिन्याः परिज्ञाय स पार्थिवः । ययाचे नन्दिनीं राजा वसिष्ठं मुनिसत्तमम् ॥ ११ ॥ विश्वामित्र उवाच । मुने धेनुसहस्रं ते घटोध्नीनां ददाम्यहम् । नन्दिनीं देहि मे धेनुं प्रार्थयामि परन्तप ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
There was a cow, named Nandinī, of Vaśiṣṭha. The Muni prepared all sorts of eatables from her milk and entertained them all. The king with his whole army was very much pleased; and, coming to know of the divine power of the cow, asked Vaśiṣṭha to give his cow Nandinī over to him and said “The udder of your cow Nandinī is like a big jar. I will give you thousand cows like that; I pray you to let me have your cow Nandinī.”
Ch 17 Verse 13 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वसिष्ठ उवाच । होमधेनुरियं राजन्न ददामि कथञ्चन । सहस्रञ्चापि धेनूनां तवेदं तव तिष्ठतु ॥ १३ ॥
English Translation
Vaśiṣṭha said “O King! This is my sacrificial cow; I cannot give you this cow in any way, let your thousand cows be yours.”
Ch 17 Verse 14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विश्वामित्र उवाच । अयुतं वाथ लक्ष्यं वा ददामि मनसेप्सितम् । द्देहि मे नन्दिनीं साधो ग्रहीष्यामि बलादथ ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
Viśvāmitra said :-- “O Saint! I will give you cows lakhs or tens and hundreds of lakhs or any number you like. Please give me your cow; in case you be unwilling, I will carry her away perforce.”
Ch 17 Verse 15 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वसिष्ठ उवाच । कामं गृहाण नृपते बलादद्य यथारुचि । नाहं ददामि ते राजन्स्वेच्छया नन्दिनीं गृहात् ॥ १५ ॥
English Translation
Vaśiṣṭha said :-- “O King! As you like, better take it perforce; I will never be able to give you my cow Nandinī from my house.”
Ch 17 Verse 16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपतिर्भृत्यानादिदेश महाबलान् । नयघ्वं नन्दिनीं धेनुं बलदर्पसुसंस्थिताः ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
O King! Hearing thus the Vaśiṣṭha’s words, Viśvāmitra, the King, ordered at once his powerful followers to carry the cow Nandinī away by fastening a cord round her neck per sheer force.
Ch 17 Verse 17-19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ते भृत्या जगृहुस्तां तु हठादाक्रम्य यन्त्रिताम् । वेपमाना मुनिं प्राह सुरभिः साश्रुलोचना ॥ १७ ॥ मुने त्यजसि मां कस्मात्कर्षयन्ति सुयन्त्रिताम् । मुनिस्तां प्रत्युवाचेदं त्यजे नाहं सुदुग्धदे ॥ १८ ॥ बलान्नयति राजाऽसौ पूजितोऽद्य मया शुभे । किं करोमि न चेच्छामि त्यक्तुं त्वां मनसा किल ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
The followers, obeying the order at once bound the cow with ropes and began to carry her away by force. At this Nandinī, trembling and with tears in her eyes, began to say to the Muni “O One! whose wealth consists only in asceticism! Are you going to leave me? Otherwise why these fellows are binding me with a cord and dragging me away?” At this the Muni replied “O Nandinī! I have never parted with you; I perform all my sacrifices through your milk. O auspicious one! I honoured this king, my guests, with eatables prepared from your food and for that reason he is carrying you away from me by sheer force. What can I do? O Nandinī! I have not the least desire to part with you.”
Ch 17 Verse 20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इत्युक्ता मुनिना धेनुः क्रोधयुक्ता बभूव ह । हम्भारवं चकाराशु क्रूरशब्दं सुदारुणम् ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
Hearing these words from the Muni, the cow became very angry and bellowed loudly and terribly.
Ch 17 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
उद्गतास्तत्र देहात्तु दैत्या घोरतरास्तदा । सायुधास्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति ब्रुवन्तः कवचावृताः ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
At once came out from her body, on that very spot, the terrible demons wearing coats of armour, and holding various weapons; and they uttered aloud, “Wait; you will soon meet with vengeance.”
Ch 17 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सैन्यं सर्वं हतं तैस्तु नन्दिनी प्रतिमोचिता । एकाकी निर्गतो राजा विश्वामित्रोऽतिदुःखितः ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
They then destroyed all the forces of the king. And the king alone was left and he went away alone, much dejected and sorrowful.
Ch 17 Verse 23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
हन्त पापोऽतिदीनात्मा निन्दन् क्षात्रबलं महत् । ब्राह्मं बलं दुराराध्यं मत्वा तपसि संस्थितः ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
Oh! That wicked king then cursed with great humility the Kṣattriya Śakti; and thinking the Brāhmanic power would be attained with great exertion, began to practise asceticism and penance.
Ch 17 Verse 24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तप्त्वा बहूनि वर्षाणि तपो घोरं महावने । ऋषित्वं प्राप गाधेयस्त्यक्त्वा क्षात्रं विधिं पुनः ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
Performing penance and tapasyā, very hard indeed, in the great forest, Viśvāmitra, the son of Gādhi, succeeded at last in becoming a Ṛṣi and then he renounced his Kṣattriya Dharma.
Ch 17 Verse 25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेन्द्र मा कृथा वैरमद्भुतम् । कुलनाशकरं नूनं तापसैः सह संयुगम् ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
Therefore, O King! Dost Thou never quarrel with these ascetics and be involved in wars resulting in great enmity and causing the extinction of the race.
Ch 17 Verse 26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मुनिवर्यं व्रजाद्य त्वं समाश्वास्य तपोनिधिम् । सुदर्शनोऽपि राजेन्द्र तिष्ठत्वत्र यथासुखम् ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
Better dost thou appease the Muni and now go back to your own kingdom. Let Sudarśana remain here at his pleasure.
Ch 17 Verse 27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
बालोऽयं निर्धनः किं ते करिष्यति नृपाहितम् । वृथा ते वैरभावोऽयमनाथे दुर्बले शिशौ ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
O King! This minor boy has no wealth; what harm can he do to you? It is useless to show your enmity towards an orphan, a weak minor boy.
Ch 17 Verse 28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दया सर्वत्र कर्तव्या दैवाधीनमिदं जगत् । ईर्ष्यया किं नृपश्रेष्ठ यद्भाव्यं तद्भविष्यति ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
This world is under the control of Destiny; therefore one should shew mercy to all. O king! What use is there to shew one’s jealousy? What is inevitable will surely come to pass.
Ch 17 Verse 29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वज्रं तृणायते राजन् दैवयोगान्न संशयः । तृणं वज्रायते क्वापि समये दैवयोगतः ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
O king! The thunderbolt comes sometimes like a blade of grass; a blade of grass acts sometimes like a thunderbolt.
Ch 17 Verse 30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शशको हन्ति शार्दूलं मशको वै तथा गजम् । साहसं मुञ्च मेधाविन् कुरु मे वचनं हितम् ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
O king! You are very intelligent; consider that by, combinations of circumstances, a hair can kill a powerful tiger and a gnat can kill an elephant. Therefore dost thou forsake this rashness and hear my beneficent advice.
Ch 17 Verse 31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य युधाजिन्नृपसत्तमः । प्रणम्य तं मुनिं मूर्घ्ना जगाम स्वपुरं नृपः ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O king! The best of kings, Yudhājit hearing the prime minister’s advice bowed down humbly at the feet of the Muni and returned to his own city.
Ch 17 Verse 32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मनोरमाऽपि स्वस्थाऽभूदाश्रमे तत्र संस्थिता । पालयामास पुत्रं तं सुदर्शनमृतव्रतम् ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
Manoramā, too, became free from anxiety, and, remaining peaceful in the hermitage, began to nourish and support her child, engaged in vows.
Ch 17 Verse 33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दिने दिने कुमारोऽसौ जगामोपचयं ततः । मुनिबालगतः क्रीडन्निर्भयः सर्वतः शुभः ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
The lovely son of the king began to grow daily like the phases of the waxing moon and sport fearlessly with the boys of the Munis, altogether, wherever they liked, a sight very auspicious.
Ch 17 Verse 34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एकस्मिन्समये तत्र विदल्लं समुपागतम् । क्लीबेति मुनिपुत्रस्तमामन्त्रयत्तदन्तिके ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
One day the minister Vidalla came there and the sons of the Munis seeing him began, in the presence of Sudarśana, to address him “Klib,” “Klib.”
Ch 17 Verse 35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सुदर्शनस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा दधारैकाक्षरं स्फुटम् । अनुस्वारयुतं तच्च प्रोवाचापि पुनः पुनः ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
Sudarśana, too, hearing them pronounce “Klib,” “Klib” took up the one letter, “Kli” and uttered this only repeatedly, which is, in fact the prince of the root mantras of Kāma, with anusvāra omitted.
Ch 17 Verse 36 Verse
Sanskrit Text
बीजं वै कामराजाख्यं गृहीतं मनसा तदा । जजाप बालकोऽत्यर्थं धृत्वा चेतसि सादरम् ॥ ३६ ॥
English Translation
Then the son of the king took that mantram and silently repeated this in his mind.
Ch 17 Verse 37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भावियोगान्महाराज कामराजाख्यमद्भुतम् । स्वभावेनैव तेनेत्थं गृहीतं बालकेन वै ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
O King! Thus that boy Sudarśana was initiated in this root mantra of Kāma (desire) spontaneously, out of his original Samskāra (innate tendency) owing to the unavoidable destiny of Fate.
Ch 17 Verse 38-39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तदाऽसौ पञ्चमे वर्षे प्राप्य मन्त्रमनुत्तमम् । ऋषिच्छन्दोविहीनञ्च ध्यानन्यासविवर्जितम् ॥ ३८ ॥ प्रजपन्मनसा नित्यं क्रीडत्यपि स्वपित्यपि । विसस्मार न तं मन्त्रं ज्ञात्वा सारमिति स्वयम् ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
The son of the king, when he was five years old, got this most excellent mantra, though without its Ṛṣi (seer), meditation, without its chanda (metre) and without Nyāsa (assignment of the various parts of the body to different deities, accompanied with prayers and corresponding gesticulations), and considered this as the quintessence of all, therefore meditated this always in his mind spontaneously and never forgot it.
Ch 17 Verse 40-41 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वर्षे चैकादशे प्राप्ते कुमारोऽसौ नृपात्मजः । मुनिना चोपनीतोऽथ वेदमध्यापितस्तथा ॥ ४० ॥ धनुर्वेदं तथा साङ्गं नीतिशास्त्रं विधानतः । अभ्यस्ताः सकला विद्यास्तेन मन्त्रबलादिना ॥ ४१ ॥
English Translation
When the king’s son grew eleven years old, the Muni performed his Upanayana (sacred thread) ceremony and made him begin the study of the Vedas. The son, with that mantra power, soon mastered all the studies about archery, all the moral and political sciences in conformity with proper rules, within a very short time.
Ch 17 Verse 42-44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कदाचित्सोऽपि प्रत्यक्षं देवीरूपं ददर्श ह । रक्ताम्बरं रक्तवर्णं रक्तसर्वाङ्गभूषणम् ॥ ४२ ॥ गरुडे वाहने संस्थां वैष्णवीं शक्तिमद्भुताम् । दृष्ट्वा प्रसन्नवदनः स बभूव नृपात्मजः ॥ ४३ ॥ वने तस्मिंस्थितः सोऽथ सर्वविद्यार्थतत्त्ववित् । मातरं सेवमानस्तु विजहार नदीतटे ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
Thus, expert in many branches of learning, Sudarśana served his Mother in that forest and began to wander on the banks of the Ganges.
Ch 17 Verse 45 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शरासनञ्च सम्प्राप्तं विशिखाश्च शिलाशिताः । तूणीरकवचं तस्मै दत्तं चाम्बिकया वने ॥ ४५ ॥
English Translation
One day the Mother of the Universe gave the bows, sharpened arrows, quiver and a mail coat of armour to that boy in that forest.
Ch 17 Verse 46-47 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एतस्मिन्समये पुत्री काशिराजस्य सुप्रिया । नाम्ना शशिकला दिव्या सर्वलक्षणसंयुता ॥ ४६ ॥ शुश्राव नृपपुत्रं तं वनस्थञ्च सुदर्शनम् । सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं शूरं काममिवापरम् ॥ ४७ ॥
English Translation
O King! At this time the extraordinary beautiful and lovely princess Śaśikalā, endowed with all auspicious qualities, the daughter of the king of Kāshi, came to hear that a beautiful prince named Sudarśana, a second Kandarpa, full of heroism and endowed with all auspicious qualities is dwelling in a forest.
Ch 17 Verse 48 Verse
Sanskrit Text
बन्दीजनमुखाच्छ्रुत्वा राजपुत्रं सुसङ्गतम् । चकमे मनसा तं वै वरं वरयितुं धिया ॥ ४८ ॥
English Translation
The princess, hearing this from a soothsayer, mentally loved and desired him and wanted finally to accept him as her legal husband.
Ch 17 Verse 49-50 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स्वप्ने तस्याः समागम्य जगदम्बा निशान्तरे । उवाच वचनं चेदं समाश्वास्य सुसंस्थिता ॥ ४९ ॥ वरं वरय सुश्रोणि मम भक्तः सुदर्शनः । सर्वकामप्रदस्तेऽस्तु वचनान्मम भामिनि ॥ ५० ॥
English Translation
Thus, on one occasion, at the end of a night (night-fall), the Goddess appeared in her dreams before her and consoled her and said “O fair one! ask a boon from me; Sudarśana is my devotee; he will fulfill, at my word, all your desires.”
Ch 17 Verse 51 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवं शशिकला दृष्टा स्वप्ने रूपं मनोहरम् । अम्बाया वचनं स्मृत्वा जहर्ष भृशभामिनी ॥ ५१ ॥
English Translation
Thus seeing the beautiful figure of the Goddess in her dreams and hearing Her sweet words, the honoured Śaśikalā was drowned in the ocean of bliss.
Ch 17 Verse 52 Verse
Sanskrit Text
उत्थिता सा मुदा युक्ता पृष्टा मात्रा पुनः पुनः । प्रमोदे कारणं बाला नोवाचातित्रपान्विता ॥ ५२ ॥
English Translation
gladness, her mother perceived her joy and inferred that her daughter must have been internally very glad, and asked her repeatedly, but Śaśikalā was too much abashed and did not give vent to the cause of her satisfaction.
Ch 17 Verse 53 Verse
Sanskrit Text
जहास मुदमापन्ना स्मृत्वा स्वप्नं मुहुर्मुहुः । सखीं प्राह तदान्यां वै स्वप्नवृत्तं सविस्तरम् ॥ ५३ ॥
English Translation
The princess, remembering her dreams, began to laugh repeatedly on account of her excessive joy. At last she spoke out in detail all about her dreams to one of her lady friends, or companions.
Ch 17 Verse 54 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कदाचित्सा विहारार्थमवापोपवनं शुभम् । सखीयुक्ता विशालाक्षी चम्पकैरुपशोभितम् ॥ ५४ ॥
English Translation
On one occasion, that large eyed Śaśikalā went out for enjoyment to a nice garden beautified with champaka flowers, attended by her companion.
Ch 17 Verse 55 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पुष्पाणि चिन्वती बाला चम्पकाधःस्थिताबला । अपश्यद्ब्राह्मणं मार्गे आगच्छन्तं त्वरान्वितम् ॥ ५५ ॥
English Translation
While the King’s daughter seated under a champaka tree, was collecting flowers, she saw a Brāhmin, coming towards her in great haste.
Ch 17 Verse 56 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तं प्रणम्य द्विजं श्यामा बभाषे मधुरं वचः । कुतो देशान्महाभाग कृतमागमनं त्वया ॥ ५६ ॥
English Translation
After bowing down before him, that beautiful princess, endowed with all auspicious qualifications, addressed him in sweet words “O blessed one! whence are you coming?”
Ch 17 Verse 57 Verse
Sanskrit Text
द्विज उवाच । भारद्वाजाश्रमाद्बाले नूनमागमनं मम । जातं वै कार्ययोगेन किं पृच्छसि वदस्व मे ॥ ५७ ॥
English Translation
The Brāhmaṇa said :-- “O girl! I am coming on an errand from the hermitage of Bhāradvāja Muni. Please mention what you are going to ask me?”
Ch 17 Verse 58 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शशिकलोवाच । तत्राश्रमे महाभाग वर्णनीयं किमस्ति वै । लोकातिगं विशेषेण प्रेक्षणीयतमं किल ॥ ५८ ॥
English Translation
Śaśikalā replied “O Noble one! What beautiful thing is therein that hermitage that is extraordinary and worth describing.”
Ch 17 Verse 59 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ब्राह्मण उवाच । ध्रुवसन्धिसुतः श्रीमानास्ते सुदर्शनो नृपः । यथार्थनामा सुश्रोणि वर्तते पुरुषोत्तमः ॥ ५९ ॥
English Translation
The Brāhmaṇa said “O fair one! There is staying the most lovely Sudarśana, the son of the King Dhruvasandhi. He is the loveliest of all men.
Ch 17 Verse 60 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तस्य लोचनमत्यन्तं निष्फलं प्रतिभाति मे । येन दृष्टो न वामोरु कुमारस्तु सुदर्शनः ॥ ६० ॥
English Translation
O fair one! He who has not seen him, I think, has his eyes given to him in vain.
Ch 17 Verse 61 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एकत्र निहिता धात्रा गुणाः सर्वे सिसृक्षुणा । गुणानामाकरं द्रष्टुं मन्ये तेनैव कौतुकात् ॥ ६१ ॥
English Translation
O auspicious one! It appears as if the Creator, with a view to see how it looks, has invested him with all the qualities.
Ch 17 Verse 62-177 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तव योग्यः कुमारोऽसौ भर्ता भवितुमर्हति । योगोऽयं विहितोऽप्यासीन्मणिकाञ्चनयोरिव ॥ ६२ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां तृतीयस्कन्धे विश्वामित्रकथोत्तरं राजपुत्रस्य कामबीजप्राप्तिवर्णनं नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ॥ ३.१७॥
English Translation
O beautiful one! what shall I say more to you, suffice to say that, that prince is fit to become your husband. I think that the Creator has, no doubt, settled already the union between you two, as a happy union of two congenial things (gold in union with Jewel).” Thus ends the seventeenth chapter on the story of Viśvāmitra and on the getting of the root mantra of Kāma by the son of the King in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.