Thread by @HinduMediaWiki

One Of our Follower asked a very cute and a genuine doubt:

What is the difference between Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita?

Ok So here are answer to few questions (though very trivial but important)

Srimad Bhagavatam or the Bhagavat Puran, is the 5th major purana amongst 18 different puranas. It contains 12 different parts (skandhas) and around 18,000 verses. Similar to the other Puranas, the Srimad Bhagavatham is written by Sage Vyasa.

Sage Shuka, who was Vyasa's son, recited the Bhagavatam to King Parikshit who was cursed to die in 7 days, by Sage Shrungi.

What happened to King Parikshit?

Well, For that we needs lot of threads but lets continue with the differences.

Bhagavad Gita is a part of the Bhisma Parva (the 6th part) of the Mahabharata. The Gita consists of 18 smaller chapters and is around 700 verses.

It was also written by Sage Vyasa (who composed the entire Mahabharata). The Gita was recited by Krishna to Arjuna on battlefield.

In the Bhagavad Gita, we come to know about Krishna as a diplomat, who imparts his knowledge to Arjuna. In the Bhagavatam (the 10th skandha), we get to know about Krishna as a youthful boy who likes to play games with the gopis, and the Krishna whose whole life is described.

Which is first written? And when and why the later one is written if both are same?

Bhagavad Gita was written prior to Srimad Bhagavatam. Infact, the very first skandha of Srimad Bhagavatam starts of with Sage Narada debating with Sage Vyasa about the Mahabharata

In the next few verses, we can get to know that Sage Narada clearly mentions that Sage Vyasa has written about the 4 virtues in Mahabharata, but has not written anything about the Lord Krishna himself. This sets the stage for Shrimad Bhagavatam.

The Srimad Bhagavatam Mahatmyam (Which means a work about Praise , Mahima of The Srimad Bhagavatam) contains a verse, "ekaa bhagavatam shastram mukti-danena garjati", which translates to roughly, Only the Srimad Bhagavatam loudly declares that reading it would grant you mukti.

Both the books were written by Sage Vyasa. They are completely different books.

One more question

Is Bhagavad Gita tells about one avatar and Shrimad Bhagavatam tells about all the Avatars?

The Srimad Bhagavatam tells about all the avatars in the 6th chapter and the 7th chapter of the 2nd skandha.

In Picture :

1) A ~45 years old The Srimad Bhagavatam at our house,
2) 16-19th century Manuscript of The Srimad Bhagavatam
3) Kali meeting King Parikshit

4) Kāliya Daman
5) Narsimh Avatar in The Srimad Bhagavatam.

The Srimad Bhagavatam is key holy scripture of Vaishnavaites, Prushitmargiy Vaishnav and Swaminarayan Sect and ISKCON.

Also numerous other Hindu sects consider it as a most Holy Scripture.