Love in religion is a Science. It is the natural outcome of the human soul, when it is freed from impurities and cured of distractions. All religions speak of the purity of the mind, and they speak also of devotion to God or Íshvara. But no religion other than Hinduism treats of the gradual development of the mind as a Science, treats of its purification and then of its natural attraction for Íshvara and the final assimilation of human life to Isvaric life as the law of the Universe. And no book in Hinduism deals with the subject so systematically specially with reference to the history of the Universe, as the Bhâgavata Purâna does. I have tried to understand the book myself as an earnest student, with the light afforded by the book itself. I have been greatly helped in the understanding of of the book by the commentary of Śridhara Svâmi which is by common consent the most authoritative of all the commentaries on the Bhâgavata Purâna. Once a Pandita prided himself before Sri Chaitanya on his having put an interpretation upon a certain sloka of the Purâna different from that of Śridhara Svâmi. Now "Svâmi" is the designation of a learned Sanyassi, such as Śridhara Svâmi was and it also means a husband. Sri Chaitanya remarked "one that does not follow the Svâmi is unchaste." Such was the high opinion which the great Teacher held regarding Śridhara’s commentary. I have purposely avoided making any reference to the commentaries made by the followers of Srî Chaitanya as I intend to study them separately along with the teachings of his school. The method of treatment followed in this study will speak for itself. I have separated the text from my own observations except in the introductory chapter and in the reference to Sukadeva in the chapter on Virât Purusha, and one can follow the text itself, without accepting any of my own views. I believe I have faithfully reproduced the text in its essential features, I have omitted unimportant details, poetical descriptions, prayers and adorations some of them most beautiful and sublime — and I have also omitted the introduction by Suta and his concluding words. Suta related the Purâna to Rishi Sounaka and others as he heard it from Sukadeva. The proofs have passed through different hands and the transliteration of Sanskrit words has been differently made. For instance [Sanskrit Letter] has been rendered as s, ś, _s_ and sh. Though I would prefer ś, the dash has been generally omitted, for the convenience of the printer. There have been also several mistakes in names. My best thanks are due to the several gentlemen, who have gone through the proofs and specially to my friend Mr. Bertram Keightley M, A., who has gone through nearly the whole of the manuscripts. Table of Contents