Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Skandha 1)

Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Skandha 1) is the 1st canto of this purāṇic text which contains 19 Adhyāyas (chapters). The text is listed among the18 Mahāpurāṇas. This Ms. contains a commentary Bhāgavatabhāvārthadīpikā by Śrīdharasvāmin which gives good clarity on the complex philosophy and devotional themes present in the text. The text primarily belongs to the Vaiṣṇava philosophy. Skandha-1 contains a dialogue between Sūta and Śaunaka ṛṣi (sage) setting the stage for the purpose of the text. It also mentions the various incarnations of supreme deity Viṣṇu especially Kṛṣṇa. There is a conversation between Nārada and Vyāsa giving details on the role of dovotion to the lord being the highest path for liberation. The text also contains stories from the epic Mahābhārata. This Ms. contains Adhyāya-1 (f.1b–7a), Adhyāya-2 (f.7a–12a), Adhyāya-3 (f.12b–17a), Adhyāya-4 (f.17b–20a), Adhyāya-5 (f.20b–25a), Adhyāya-6 (f.-25a–27b), Adhyāya-7 (f.27b–32a), Adhyāya-8 (f.27b–35b), Adhyāya-9 (f.35b–39a), Adhyāya-10 (f.39a–41b), Adhyāya-11 (f.41b–44a), Adhyāya-12 (f.44b–46b), Adhyāya-13 (f.47a–51a), Adhyāya-14 (f.51b–54a), Adhyāya-15 (f.54b–59b), Adhyāya-16 (f.59b–63a), Adhyāya-17 (f.63a–66a), Adhyāya-18 (f.66b–70a), Adhyāya-19 (f.70b–74a). This Ms. is written in 7–16 lines per folio. Cover and back page are blank. Title present in the intermediate colophon of each chapter. There are 2 double black vertical margins present on each side of the folio with red in between. The (Pūrna Virāma) full stop style vertical brackets, significant syllables and words are in red. Mistakes are covered with yellow or overwritten. There are marginal corrections in a different hand. Some black blotches are also present.