Difference between Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita

Bhagavad Gita is mainly philosophical. It was spoken by Krishna Himself and is the conclusion of all the Upanisadas. In this unparalleled dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna everything that is important in life is mentioned. In itself it is complete but it is very concise and Krishna deals with one point after another without elaborating. It serves to orient a person so that they know who they are and what they should be doing.

While Bhagavad Gita is only 700 verses, Srimad Bhagavatam is 18,000 verses, but the conclusion is the same. The difference between Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita is in the detail.

For example, in Bhagavad Gita Krishna says:

This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again. Bg 9.10

In Bhagavatam, it is described how this takes place in many verses. How the different material elements become manifest gradually from subtle down to gross, and how the living entities become manifest.

Krishna states in Gita that He appears millennium after millennium. Bhagavatam gives descriptions of some of these avatars. Not all can be listed but the major avatars are mentioned.

Krishna states “of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa]” Bg 10.25

Bhagavatam explains why:

By following the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or undergoing atonement, sinful men do not become as purified as by chanting once the holy name of Lord Hari. Although ritualistic atonement may free one from sinful reactions, it does not awaken devotional service, unlike the chanting of the Lord's names, which reminds one of the Lord's fame, qualities, attributes, pastimes and paraphernalia. SB 6.2.11

One who chants the holy name of the Lord is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly [to indicate something else], jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully. This is accepted by all the learned scholars of the scriptures. SB 6.2.14

Krishna mentions that He has created four divisions in human society, and Bhagavatam explains how these work together for a happy and prosperous society that helps everyone progress towards liberation.

Bhagvatam explains these points by giving references from history. It speaks about actual events that occurred and validate the philosophical points made in Gita. In this regard, it’s like cases that define the law. Lawyers frequently refer to this case or that case from the past to show how the law should be understood. Similarly, Bhagavatam refers to incidences from the past to illustrate philosophical points. As such it is very readable because the stories are fantastic. They make the current attempts to write entertaining fiction based on superhuman activities and powers seem puny and trivial.

Sukadeva Goswami the speaker of Bhagavatam gives a summary of the topics.

SB 2.10.1 - Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: In the Srimad-Bhagavatam there are ten divisions of statements regarding the following: the creation of the universe, subcreation, planetary systems, protection by the Lord, the creative impetus, the change of Manus, the science of God, returning home back to Godhead, liberation, and the summum bonum.

SB 2.10.2 - To isolate the transcendence of the summum bonum, the symptoms of the rest are described sometimes by Vedic inference, sometimes by direct explanation, and sometimes by summary explanations given by the great sages.

SB 2.10.3 - The elementary creation of sixteen items of matter-namely the five elements [fire, water, land, air and sky], sound, form, taste, smell, touch, and the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin and mind-is known as sarga, whereas subsequent resultant interaction of the modes of material nature is called visarga.

SB 2.10.4 - The right situation for the living entities is to obey the laws of the Lord and thus be in perfect peace of mind under the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Manus and their laws are meant to give right direction in life. The impetus for activity is the desire for fruitive work.

SB 2.10.5 - The science of God describes the incarnations of the Personality of Godhead and His different activities together with the activities of His great devotees.

SB 2.10.6 - The merging of the living entity, along with his conditional living tendency, with the mystic lying down of the Maha-Visnu is called the winding up of the cosmic manifestation. Liberation is the permanent situation of the form of the living entity after he gives up the changeable gross and subtle material bodies.

SB 2.10.7 - The supreme one who is celebrated as the Supreme Being or the Supreme Soul is the supreme source of the cosmic manifestation as well as its reservoir and winding up. Thus He is the Supreme Fountainhead, the Absolute Truth.

Both books stress surrendering to Krishna in loving devotion as the highest goal, so if you have time read both because the Bhagavatam increases the incentive to love Krishna like anything.



Related post:

What is Meaning of Life according to Bhagwad Gita?


The Significance of Chapter 1 in the Bhagwad Gita


The Importance of the Bhakti as per Bhagavad Gita


What does Lord Krishna says about death in Bhagwad Gita?


Karma, Vikarma, Karma Yoga, Akarma in the Bhagavad Gita


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