Status of the 18 purANas

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna! Some time ago, there was a discussion of the mode

of the Brahma-Vaivarta PurANa (goodness or passion). I knew

that a devotee had sent me this some years ago, but I just managed

to find the file now:

 

padma purANa, uttara-khanda, 236.18-21

 

vaiSNavam nAradIyaM ca tathA bhAgavataM zubham

 

gAruDam ca tathA pAdmaM vArAhaM zubha-darzane

 

sAttvikAni purANAni vijneyAni zubhAni vai

 

 

brahmANDam brahma-vaivartaM mArkaNDeyaM tathaiva ca

 

bhaviSyaM vAmanaM brAhmaM rAjasAni nibodha me

 

 

matsyaM kaurmam tathA laingaM zaivaM skAndaM tathaiva ca

 

AgneyaM ca SaD etAni tAmasAni nibodha me

 

 

The Sanskrit seems fairly simple; here's my cut:

 

[Lord Shiva said:] "O Zubha-darzanA [Parvati, who is auspicious to

see]! The Vishnu, Narada, Bhagavata, Garuda, Padma, and Varaha Puranas

are to be known as auspicious Sattvik Puranas. Learn from me that the

Brahmanda, Brahma-vaivarta, Markandeya, Bhavisya, Vamana, and Brahma

are Rajasik. Learn from me that the Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Shiva,

Skanda, and Agni are the 6 Tamasik Puranas."

 

Thus, according to the topmost Vaishnava, the Brahma-vaivarta Purana

is rajasik in nature.

 

Yours,

 

Vijay