Granth: the library of Bharat
The Vedas and Upanishads, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Darshanas, the Bhakti poets, the scriptures of the Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs, and the great shastras of science and statecraft.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita
All 18 chapters and all 700 shlokas: the Sanskrit, the transliteration, and the meaning of every verse in English and Hindi.
Read the Gitaकर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि
Your right is to the work alone, never to its fruits. Do not let the fruit of action be your motive, and do not be attached to inaction.Bhagavad Gita 2.47
VedasShruti: heard by the rishis, apaurusheya
10 mandalas, 1,028 suktas (including 11 Valakhilya), about 10,552 mantras in the Shakala recension
यजुर्वेदःYajurveda (Shukla and Krishna)Revealed to the rishis (apaurusheya); Maharshi Vyasa taught it to Vaishampayana, and the Shukla Yajurveda was revealed by Surya to Maharshi YajnavalkyaShukla: Vajasaneyi Samhita, 40 adhyayas (Madhyandina and Kanva shakhas). Krishna: Taittiriya Samhita in 7 kandas, with the Maitrayani, Kathaka and Kapishthala Samhitas
सामवेदःSamavedaRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya); Maharshi Vyasa taught it to JaiminiKauthuma Samhita of 1,875 mantras in two parts, Purvarchika and Uttararchika, with the song-books (ganas)
अथर्ववेदःAtharvavedaRevealed to the rishis Atharvan and Angiras (apaurusheya); Maharshi Vyasa taught it to SumantuShaunaka Samhita: 20 kandas, 730 suktas, about 6,000 mantras; the Paippalada Samhita in 20 kandas survives in Odisha
ब्राह्मणग्रन्थाःThe BrahmanasRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)Prose texts attached to each Veda; the Shatapatha Brahmana alone has 100 adhyayas in 14 kandas (Madhyandina)
आरण्यकाःThe AranyakasRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)Forest texts of each Veda: the Aitareya (5 books), Shankhayana, Taittiriya (10 prapathakas) and the Brihadaranyaka
षड् वेदाङ्गानिThe six VedangasTaught by the rishis and acharyas as limbs of the Veda: Panini, Yaska, Pingala, Lagadha and the authors of the Kalpa SutrasSix disciplines: Shiksha, Chandas, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Jyotisha and Kalpa
UpanishadsThe Vedanta, the end of the Veda
18 mantras; the 40th adhyaya of the Vajasaneyi Samhita, Shukla Yajurveda
केनोपनिषद्Kena UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)4 khandas, 35 mantras; part of the Talavakara (Jaiminiya) Upanishad Brahmana of the Samaveda
कठोपनिषद्Katha UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)2 adhyayas of 3 vallis each (6 vallis), 119 mantras; Katha shakha of the Krishna Yajurveda
प्रश्नोपनिषद्Prashna UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)6 prashnas (questions), 67 mantras; Paippalada shakha of the Atharvaveda
मुण्डकोपनिषद्Mundaka UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)3 mundakas of 2 khandas each, 64 mantras; Atharvaveda
माण्डूक्योपनिषद्Mandukya UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)12 mantras in prose; Atharvaveda; read with Gaudapada's Karika in 4 prakaranas
तैत्तिरीयोपनिषद्Taittiriya UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)3 vallis (Shiksha, Brahmananda, Bhrigu); prapathakas 7–9 of the Taittiriya Aranyaka, Krishna Yajurveda
ऐतरेयोपनिषद्Aitareya UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)3 adhyayas (5 khandas); Aitareya Aranyaka 2.4–2.6, Rigveda
छान्दोग्योपनिषद्Chandogya UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)8 prapathakas; the last eight of the ten prapathakas of the Chandogya Brahmana, Samaveda (Kauthuma)
बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्Brihadaranyaka UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)6 adhyayas in 3 kandas (Madhu, Yajnavalkya, Khila); the closing part of the Shatapatha Brahmana, Shukla Yajurveda
श्वेताश्वतरोपनिषद्Shvetashvatara UpanishadRevealed through Rishi Shvetashvatara (apaurusheya)6 adhyayas, 113 mantras; Krishna Yajurveda
कौषीतकिब्राह्मणोपनिषद्Kaushitaki UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)4 adhyayas; adhyayas 3–6 of the Shankhayana (Kaushitaki) Aranyaka, Rigveda
मैत्रायणीयोपनिषद्Maitri (Maitrayaniya) UpanishadRevealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)7 prapathakas; Maitrayani shakha of the Krishna Yajurveda
अष्टोत्तरशतोपनिषदःThe 108 Upanishads (Muktika canon)Revealed to the rishis (apaurusheya)108 Upanishads: 10 of the Rigveda, 19 of the Shukla Yajurveda, 32 of the Krishna Yajurveda, 16 of the Samaveda and 31 of the Atharvaveda
Itihasa"Thus it happened"
3 parvas: Harivamsha, Vishnu and Bhavishya; the khila (supplement) of the Mahabharata; 118 adhyayas in the BORI Critical Edition
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीताShrimad Bhagavad GitaSpoken by Bhagwan Shri Krishna to Arjuna; recorded by Maharshi Vyasa in the Mahabharata18 adhyayas, 700 shlokas; Bhishma Parva chapters 25–42 of the Mahabharata (23–40 in the BORI Critical Edition)
महाभारतम्MahabharataMaharshi Vyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana)18 parvas; 1,00,000 shlokas by tradition, counting the Harivamsha; the BORI Critical Edition has 1,995 adhyayas and a little over 73,000 verses
18 pages, one for each partश्रीमद्वाल्मीकीयरामायणम्Valmiki RamayanaMaharshi Valmiki, the Adikavi7 kandas, about 24,000 shlokas (645 sargas in the Gita Press edition)
7 pages, one for each partPuranasThe ancient lore of Maharshi Vyasa
About 245 adhyayas in purva and uttara bhagas; 10,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
पद्मपुराणम्Padma PuranaMaharshi VyasaFive khandas by the Narada Purana's account; six in the Venkateshvara and Gita Press texts, with the Kriyayogasara often added; 55,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
विष्णुपुराणम्Vishnu PuranaMaharshi Parashara, as handed down by Maharshi Vyasa6 amshas, 126 adhyayas; 23,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
शिवपुराणम्Shiva PuranaMaharshi Vyasa7 samhitas, 24,000 shlokas (Vidyeshvara Samhita); the Rudra Samhita in 5 khandas
श्रीमद्भागवतम्Shrimad Bhagavata PuranaMaharshi Vyasa12 skandhas, 335 adhyayas, 18,000 shlokas
नारदीयपुराणम्Narada PuranaMaharshi VyasaPurva Bhaga of 125 adhyayas in 4 padas, and an Uttara Bhaga; 25,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
मार्कण्डेयपुराणम्Markandeya PuranaMaharshi Vyasa9,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13); contains the Devi Mahatmya, 13 adhyayas and 700 shlokas
अग्निपुराणम्Agni PuranaMaharshi VyasaAbout 382 adhyayas in one continuous series; 15,400 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
भविष्यपुराणम्Bhavishya PuranaMaharshi Vyasa4 parvas; 14,500 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
ब्रह्मवैवर्तपुराणम्Brahmavaivarta PuranaMaharshi Vyasa4 khandas of 30, 67, 46 and 133 adhyayas; 18,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
लिङ्गपुराणम्Linga PuranaMaharshi VyasaPurva Bhaga (108 adhyayas) and Uttara Bhaga; 11,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
वराहपुराणम्Varaha PuranaMaharshi Vyasa218 adhyayas in the text most read today; 24,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
स्कन्दपुराणम्Skanda PuranaMaharshi Vyasa7 khandas in the Venkateshvara Press recension (in another arrangement, 6 samhitas); 81,100 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13), the largest of the Puranas
वामनपुराणम्Vamana PuranaMaharshi Vyasa10,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13); Purva and Uttara bhagas
कूर्मपुराणम्Kurma PuranaMaharshi VyasaBrahmi Samhita in Purva (51 adhyayas) and Uttara (44 adhyayas) vibhagas; 17,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13), 6,000 by the Kurma's own count of the Brahmi Samhita
मत्स्यपुराणम्Matsya PuranaMaharshi Vyasa14,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13); one series of adhyayas
गरुडपुराणम्Garuda PuranaMaharshi Vyasa19,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13); in the Venkateshvara Press text, Purva Khanda (Achara Kanda, 240 adhyayas) and Uttara Khanda in two parts, the Dharma Kanda or Preta Kalpa (49 adhyayas) and the Brahma Kanda (29 adhyayas)
ब्रह्माण्डपुराणम्Brahmanda PuranaMaharshi Vyasa4 padas in Purva, Madhyama and Uttara bhagas; 12,000 shlokas by the count of the Bhagavata (12.13)
उपपुराणानिThe UpapuranasMaharshi Vyasa and the rishis, by traditionCounted as eighteen in the Puranas' own lists, though the names differ from list to list
DarshanasThe six schools of philosophy
4 padas, 195 sutras (196 in some recensions)
ब्रह्मसूत्राणिBrahma SutrasMaharshi Badarayana, whom tradition identifies with Maharshi Vyasa4 adhyayas, 16 padas, 555 sutras in Adi Shankaracharya's reading
न्यायसूत्राणिNyaya SutrasMaharshi Gautama (Akshapada)5 adhyayas, each in 2 ahnikas; about 530 sutras
वैशेषिकसूत्राणिVaisheshika SutrasMaharshi Kanada10 adhyayas, each in 2 ahnikas; about 370 sutras
साङ्ख्यकारिकाSamkhya KarikaIshvarakrishna, in the line of Maharshi Kapila72 karikas in the arya metre (a 73rd appears in some editions), the last three giving the lineage of the teaching
मीमांसासूत्राणिMimamsa SutrasMaharshi Jaimini, disciple of Maharshi Vyasa12 adhyayas, 60 padas, about 2,700 sutras; the longest of the darshana sutras
DharmashastraLaw, duty and conduct
12 adhyayas, about 2,690 shlokas in the vulgate with Kulluka's commentary
याज्ञवल्क्यस्मृतिःYajnavalkya SmritiMaharshi Yajnavalkya, teaching the rishis at Mithila3 adhyayas (Achara, Vyavahara, Prayashchitta), about 1,010 shlokas
पराशरस्मृतिःParashara SmritiMaharshi Parashara, father of Maharshi Vyasa12 adhyayas, about 590 shlokas
धर्मसूत्राणिThe Dharma SutrasMaharshis Apastamba, Gautama, Baudhayana and VasishthaFour surviving Dharma Sutras; each belongs to the Kalpa Sutra of a Vedic shakha
Agamas and TantrasTemple, worship and sadhana
28 Siddhanta Agamas (10 Shivabheda, 18 Rudrabheda), with 207 Upagamas; each in up to four padas
पाञ्चरात्रवैखानसागमाःPancharatra and Vaikhanasa AgamasPancharatra: taught by Bhagwan Narayana; Vaikhanasa: Maharshi Vikhanasa and his disciples Atri, Bhrigu, Marichi and KashyapaPancharatra: 108 samhitas by tradition; Vaikhanasa: the samhitas of Atri, Bhrigu, Marichi and Kashyapa
शाक्ततन्त्राणिThe Shakta TantrasSpoken between Bhagwan Shiva and Mata Parvati, by the tradition's own accountTraditionally 64 Tantras, with many more in the regional lists
BhaktiThe songs of devotion
7 kandas, in chaupais punctuated by dohas, sorathas and chhands
நாலாயிரத் திவ்வியப் பிரபந்தம்Nalayira Divya PrabandhamThe twelve Alvars; compiled by Shri NathamuniAbout 4,000 pasurams in four sets of a thousand
திருமுறைTirumurai (with the Tevaram)Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar, Manikkavacakar, Tirumular, Sekkizhar and other Shaiva saints; compiled by Nambiyandar Nambi12 books; the first seven are the Tevaram
ज्ञानेश्वरीDnyaneshwari (Bhavartha Dipika)Sant Jnaneshwar (Dnyaneshwar)18 adhyayas following the Gita, about 9,000 ovis
गीतगोविन्दम्Gita GovindaJayadeva12 sargas, 24 ashtapadis (songs of eight verses) linked by shlokas
हनुमान चालीसाHanuman ChalisaGoswami Tulsidas40 chaupais, with two dohas at the opening and one at the close
विनय पत्रिकाVinaya PatrikaGoswami Tulsidas279 pads (songs) in the Gita Press edition
तुकाराम गाथाTukaram GathaSant TukaramAbout 4,500 abhangas in the standard collections
JainThe words of the Tirthankaras
Shvetambara Murtipujaka canon of 45 texts: 11 Angas, 12 Upangas, 10 Prakirnakas, 6 Chhedasutras, 4 Mulasutras, 2 Chulikasutras; Sthanakavasi and Terapanthi traditions accept 32
कप्पसुत्तKalpa SutraAcharya Bhadrabahu, the Shrutakevali (Jain tradition)Three parts: Jinacharitra, Sthaviravali and Samachari; it forms the eighth chapter of the Dashashrutaskandha
तत्त्वार्थसूत्रTattvartha SutraAcharya Umaswati (Umaswami in the Digambara tradition)10 adhyayas, about 350 sutras (357 in the Digambara reading, 344 in the Shvetambara)
छक्खंडागमShatkhandagamaAcharya Pushpadanta and Acharya Bhutabali, disciples of Acharya Dharasena6 khandas (parts) of Prakrit sutras
BuddhistThe words of the Buddha
Three pitakas (baskets): Vinaya, Sutta (5 nikayas) and Abhidhamma (7 books)
धम्मपदDhammapadaVerses spoken by Bhagwan Buddha, gathered in the Khuddaka Nikaya423 verses in 26 vaggas (chapters)
जातकThe Jataka TalesTold by Bhagwan Buddha of his own former births; prose by the Sinhala commentators547 jatakas in 22 nipatas, arranged by the number of verses in each
मिलिन्दपञ्हMilindapanha (The Questions of King Milinda)Records the dialogue of Bhikkhu Nagasena and King Milinda; compiler unknown7 books in the Pali text (as divided by T. W. Rhys Davids)
प्रज्ञापारमितासूत्र, सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्रThe Mahayana Sutras: Prajnaparamita and the Lotus SutraSpoken by Bhagwan Buddha, in the Mahayana tradition’s own account; Nagarjuna is said to have brought the Prajnaparamita back from the nagasPrajnaparamita in many lengths, from 1,00,000 lines down to the Heart Sutra; the Lotus Sutra in 27 chapters in Sanskrit (28 in Kumarajiva’s Chinese)
SikhThe Gurus' word
1,430 angs (pages) in the standard edition; opening banis, 31 ragas, and closing compositions
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬSri Dasam Granth SahibGuru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru (Sikh tradition); gathered by Bhai Mani SinghAbout 1,428 pages in the standard printed edition; some 18 compositions
ਜਪੁਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬJapji SahibGuru Nanak Dev JiMul Mantar, an opening salok, 38 pauris and a closing salok; angs 1–8 of the Guru Granth Sahib
Shastras and scienceStatecraft, grammar, medicine, astronomy
15 adhikaranas, 150 chapters, 180 topics (prakaranas), 6,000 shlokas by its own count
अष्टाध्यायीAshtadhyayiMaharshi Panini8 adhyayas of 4 padas each, close to 4,000 sutras (3,959 in the usual count), with the Shiva Sutras, Dhatupatha and Ganapatha
नाट्यशास्त्रम्Natya ShastraBharata Muni36 chapters (37 in some recensions), about 6,000 verses
चरकसंहिताCharaka SamhitaTeaching of Atreya Punarvasu, composed by Agnivesha, redacted by Charaka, completed by Dridhabala8 sthanas, 120 chapters (30 in the Sutrasthana, arranged in tetrads)
सुश्रुतसंहिताSushruta SamhitaAcharya Sushruta, from the teaching of Divodasa Dhanvantari, king of Kashi5 sthanas of 120 chapters, and the Uttara Tantra of 66: 186 chapters in all
आर्यभटीयम्AryabhatiyaAryabhata4 padas, 121 verses
ब्राह्मस्फुटसिद्धान्तःBrahmasphutasiddhantaBrahmagupta24 chapters, about 1,000 verses
लीलावतीLilavatiBhaskaracharya (Bhaskara II)About 270 verses in some 13 topics
सूर्यसिद्धान्तःSurya SiddhantaRevealed by Surya Deva, through his amsha, to Maya Asura14 chapters, about 500 shlokas
യുക്തിഭാഷYuktibhasaJyeshthadeva15 chapters in two parts: mathematics (7) and astronomy (8)
मानसारम् · मयमतम्Manasara and MayamataManasara is credited to the sage Manasara; Mayamata to Maya, architect of the asurasManasara: 70 chapters; Mayamata: 36 chapters
कामन्दकीयनीतिसारःKamandakiya NitisaraKamandaka20 sargas, 36 prakaranas, about 1,200 shlokas
राजतरङ्गिणीRajataranginiKalhana8 tarangas (waves), about 7,800 verses
प्रबन्धचिन्तामणिःPrabandha ChintamaniMerutunga, Jain acharya5 prakashas (chapters) of prabandhas (historical anecdotes)
अमरकोशः (नामलिङ्गानुशासनम्)AmarakoshaAmarasimha, by tradition one of the nine gems of Vikramaditya’s court3 kandas in vargas (sections), about 1,500 shlokas
Kavya and historyPoetry, drama and chronicle
A kathamukha (preface) and 5 tantras (books) of kathas within kathas; about 1,100 verses in the common printed text
हितोपदेशःHitopadeshaNarayana PanditaA prelude and 4 books (kathasangrahas), prose with about 725 verses
कथासरित्सागरःKathasaritsagaraSomadeva Bhatta of Kashmir18 lambakas, 124 tarangas, about 21,500 shlokas
திருக்குறள்TirukkuralThiruvalluvar3 parts, 133 adhikarams (chapters) of 10 kurals each, 1,330 couplets
எட்டுத்தொகை · பத்துப்பாட்டுSangam anthologies: Ettuthokai and PattuppattuOver 470 poets, among them Kapilar, Paranar, Nakkirar and Avvaiyar8 anthologies and 10 long poems; 2,381 poems by the usual count
சிலப்பதிகாரம்SilappatikaramIlango Adigal, by tradition a Chera prince turned ascetic3 kandams, 30 kathais (cantos)
अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम्AbhijnanashakuntalamKalidasaA nataka in 7 acts
मेघदूतम्MeghadutaKalidasa2 parts, a little over 110 verses in the mandakranta metre (the count varies by recension)
रघुवंशम्RaghuvamshaKalidasaA mahakavya in 19 sargas
कुमारसम्भवम्KumarasambhavaKalidasa (sargas 1–8; the later sargas are generally held to be by another hand)A mahakavya in 17 sargas, of which the first 8 are read as Kalidasa’s
किरातार्जुनीयम्KiratarjuniyaBharaviA mahakavya in 18 sargas, each closing with the word lakshmi
हर्षचरितम्HarshacharitaBanabhatta, court poet of Harsha8 ucchvasas (chapters); the work ends unfinished
पृथ्वीराज रासोPrithviraj RasoChand Bardai, by tradition the court poet and friend of Prithviraj ChauhanFour recensions; the longest has 69 samays (cantos)
पदमावतPadmavatMalik Muhammad Jayasi, Sufi poet of JaisAbout 57 khands (cantos) in doha-chaupai stanzas