Interpolations in the Bhāgavata Purāna

Summary

The Bhāgavata Purāna is one of the most influential Hindu scriptures, yet its textual history is complicated by centuries of copying and revision. This article addresses the problem of interpolations—passages not present in early versions but inserted by later redactors. By comparing manuscripts, printed editions and ancient commentaries, the author identifies suspect chapters and verses and analyses their themes. He notes that some interpolations glorify the deity Kṛṣṇa with hyperbolic descriptions, expand genealogical lists or insert sectarian doctrines that reflect late medieval theology. Linguistic criteria also reveal anomalies: certain sections use vocabulary and metre characteristic of later Sanskrit literature rather than of the original Purāṇa. The article surveys earlier scholarship on textual corruption in the Bhāgavata and criticises the tendency of some editors to harmonise divergent readings without indicating additions. Particular attention is paid to the tenth book, where stories of Kṛṣṇa’s childhood and youth have attracted devotional expansions. The author shows that key episodes such as the rāsa‑līlā were embellished over time and that some praises of Rādhā are absent from the earliest commentaries. Historical clues also help date interpolations: references to post‑Gupta dynasties, Islamic invasions or philosophical debates suggest that certain passages were composed after the twelfth century. Conversely, some material omitted in later manuscripts may represent early deletions rather than insertions. The article encourages scholars to study manuscripts from different regions and to produce a critical edition that separates core text from later accretions. In sum, this study highlights the fluidity of Purāṇic literature and argues that devotional texts often grew by absorbing local legends and theological innovations. Recognising interpolations not only clarifies the historical development of the Bhāgavata but also sheds light on the changing religious sensibilities of its readers over a millennium.