Itihasa
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीताBhagavad Gita
The divine song of Lord Krishna, spoken on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
18 chapters 701 versesCatalogue records 700 verses
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Reading level: Introductory
The Sacred Archive
Scripture Libraryग्रंथालय
Vedas, Upanishads, Itihasas and Puranas in one place. Search by name or topic, filter by tradition, length or language, then open any text to read it verse by verse.
अष्टावक्र गीता
Ashtavakra Gita
A separate reading, not one of the catalogue cards below. 20 prakaranas and 298 verses are published. Chapters 19 and 20 stay review-required.
65 of 65 textsपरिणाम
Upanishads
ईशावास्योपनिषद्Isha Upanishad
One of the shortest and most profound Upanishads. It discusses the nature of the Self (Atman) and the Absolute (Brahman) in just 18 verses.
1 chapter 18 verses
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Reading level: Introductory
Upanishads
केनोपनिषद्Kena Upanishad
Explores the nature of Brahman as the unseen power behind the senses and mind. Famous for its allegory of the gods (devas).
4 chapters 35 verses
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Reading level: Introductory
Upanishads
कठोपनिषद्Katha Upanishad
The story of Nachiketa and Yama (Death). Explores the nature of death, the eternal soul, and the path to liberation.
6 chapters 119 verses
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Reading level: Introductory
Upanishads
मुण्डकोपनिषद्Mundaka Upanishad
Known for its metaphor of the bow and arrow for attaining Brahman. Distinguishes between higher (para) and lower (apara) knowledge.
6 chapters 64 verses
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Reading level: Introductory
Upanishads
माण्डूक्योपनिषद्Mandukya Upanishad
The shortest principal Upanishad (12 mantras).
1 chapter 12 verses
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Reading level: Introductory
Upanishads
प्रश्नोपनिषद्Prashna Upanishad
Six questions posed by six disciples to sage Pippalada, covering prana, vital forces, meditation, and the Self.
6 chapters 67 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
तैत्तिरीयोपनिषद्Taittiriya Upanishad
Detailed exposition on the five koshas (sheaths) covering the Self and the famous prayer "Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara".
3 chapters 39 verses selected · 92 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
छान्दोग्योपनिषद्Chandogya Upanishad
One of the longest Upanishads. Famous for the Mahavakya "Tat Tvam Asi" (That Thou Art) and the story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu.
154 chapters 595 versesCatalogue records 629 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
The largest Upanishad. Contains profound dialogues between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi, and explores the nature of reality in depth.
45 chapters 385 versesCatalogue records 435 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
श्वेताश्वतरोपनिषद्Shvetashvatara Upanishad
Notable for its theistic approach describing Brahman as Shiva (Maheshwara). Discusses yoga, meditation, and the nature of God.
6 chapters 113 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
ऐतरेयोपनिषद्Aitareya Upanishad
Describes the creation of the universe, the birth of the individual soul, and the identity of the individual self with the cosmic Self.
5 chapters 27 versesCatalogue records 33 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
कौषीतकि उपनिषद्Kaushitaki Upanishad
A principal Upanishad of the Rigveda. Famous for Indra's teaching to Pratardana: prana (conscious breath) is the only true Self.
4 chapters 14 verses selected · 96 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
मैत्री उपनिषद्Maitri Upanishad
A principal Upanishad of the Krishna Yajurveda.
7 chapters 99 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
महानारायण उपनिषद्Mahanarayana Upanishad
A major Upanishad of the Krishna Yajurveda containing the Narayana Sukta, Purusha Sukta, and the Mahamrityunjaya (Tryambaka) mantra.
79 chapters 263 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
महोपनिषद्Maha Upanishad
A Samanya Upanishad of the Samaveda in six chapters: the creation from Narayana, the dialogues of Shuka, Nidagha and Janaka on liberation while…
6 chapters 553 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
कैवल्य उपनिषद्Kaivalya Upanishad
A short Upanishad of the Atharvaveda. Teaches liberation through meditation on the Self in the heart-cave.
2 chapters 24 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
अमृतबिन्दु उपनिषद्Amritabindu Upanishad
The 'drop of immortality.' A dense 22-verse Atharvaveda Upanishad teaching that the mind is the sole cause of both bondage and liberation.
1 chapter 22 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
तेजोबिन्दु उपनिषद्Tejobindu Upanishad
The 'drop of light.' A Shiva-Kartikeya dialogue in the Advaita tradition.
7 chapters 463 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
जाबाल उपनिषद्Jabala Upanishad
A short but radical Atharvaveda Upanishad.
1 chapter 6 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
निरालम्ब उपनिषद्Niralamba Upanishad
The 'supportless' Upanishad. Teaches that the Self requires no external support — all external props are impermanent.
1 chapter 21 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Upanishads
मुक्तिकोपनिषद्Muktika Upanishad
The canonical meta-Upanishad — a dialogue between Rama (guru) and Hanuman (disciple).
2 chapters 136 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Vedas
ऋग्वेदRig Veda
The oldest scripture of humanity — 10,552 hymns across 10 Mandalas.
10 chapters 67 verses selected · 10,600 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
Vedas
यजुर्वेदYajur Veda
The Veda of rituals and sacrifices, containing prose mantras and verses used during Vedic ceremonies.
40 chapters 1,809 versesCatalogue records 1,975 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Vedas
सामवेदSama Veda
The Veda of melodies and chants — the world's oldest musical scripture (1,875 verses).
4 chapters 1,873 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Vedas
अथर्ववेदAtharva Veda
The fourth Veda containing hymns, spells, and incantations for healing, protection, and daily life.
20 chapters 5,614 versesCatalogue records 7,300 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Itihasa
वाल्मीकि रामायणRamayana
The Valmiki Ramayana — Adi Kavya, the first poem (~24,000 shlokas, 7 Kandas).
7 chapters 82 verses selected · 24,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Itihasa
महाभारतMahabharata
The great epic containing the Bhagavad Gita. Narrates the Kurukshetra war and contains over 100,000 verses.
18 chapters 32,511 verses selected · 1,00,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
Itihasa
श्रीरामचरितमानसShri Ramcharitmanas
The retelling of the Ramayana in Awadhi by Goswami Tulsidas. A cornerstone of Bhakti literature.
7 chapters 35 verses selected · 16,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
विष्णुपुराणVishnu Purana
Primarily glorifies Vishnu and narrates creation, genealogies of gods and sages, and manvantaras.
126 chapters 5,488 versesCatalogue records 7,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
शिवपुराणShiva Purana
The supreme Shaiva Mahapurana — 24,000 verses across 7 Samhitas.
11 chapters 12,977 versesCatalogue records 24,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
श्रीमद्भागवतपुराणBhagavata Purana
The most celebrated Purana among Vaishnavas. Narrates the avataras of Vishnu, especially Krishna.
13 chapters 106 verses selected · 18,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
देवीभागवतपुराणDevi Bhagavata Purana
A major Shakta Purana glorifying the Divine Mother (Devi). Describes her various forms.
12 chapters 106 verses selected · 18,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
गरुडपुराणGaruda Purana
Covers cosmology, genealogies, and detailed descriptions of death rituals, afterlife, and the journey of the soul.
317 chapters 11,877 versesCatalogue records 19,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
अग्निपुराणAgni Purana
A vast encyclopedic Purana covering architecture, iconography, rituals, medicine, politics, grammar, and yoga.
381 chapters 11,043 versesCatalogue records 15,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
ब्रह्मपुराणBrahma Purana
One of the 18 Mahapuranas (~10,000 verses).
246 chapters 13,443 versesCatalogue records 10,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
पद्मपुराणPadma Purana
One of the largest Mahapuranas (~55,000 verses across 5 Khandas).
8 chapters 18 verses selected · 55,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
ब्रह्माण्डपुराणBrahmanda Purana
One of the oldest Puranas dealing with the cosmic egg (Brahmanda). Contains cosmological theories and descriptions of goddesses.
156 chapters 13,496 versesCatalogue records 12,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
मार्कण्डेयपुराणMarkandeya Purana
Famous for containing the Devi Mahatmyam (Durga Saptashati), a 700-verse hymn glorifying Goddess Durga.
90 chapters 4,333 verses selected · 9,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
हरिवंशपुराणHarivamsha Purana
A 16,374-verse appendix to the Mahabharata by Vyasa.
119 chapters 5,870 verses selected · 16,374 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
कल्किपुराणKalki Purana
An Upapurana prophesying the advent of Kalki — Vishnu's tenth and final avatar — at the end of Kali Yuga.
3 chapters 10 verses selected · 6,100 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Other Texts
नारद भक्ति सूत्रNarada Bhakti Sutras
84 sutras by sage Narada — the most systematic philosophical treatise on bhakti in the Sanskrit tradition.
3 chapters 26 verses selected · 84 in the full text
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Reading level: Introductory
Other Texts
शाण्डिल्य भक्ति सूत्रShandilya Bhakti Sutras
100 sutras by sage Shandilya — the philosophical companion to the Narada Bhakti Sutras.
4 chapters 15 verses selected · 100 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
नृसिंहपुराणNarasimha Purana
One of the 18 Upapuranas (~220 chapters, ~11,000 verses).
68 chapters 3,361 verses selected · 11,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
नारदपुराणNarada Purana
One of the 18 Mahapuranas (~25,000 verses).
167 chapters 15,198 versesCatalogue records 25,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
मत्स्यपुराणMatsya Purana
One of the 18 Mahapuranas (~14,000 verses).
176 chapters 8,330 versesCatalogue records 14,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
लिङ्गपुराणLinga Purana
One of the 18 Mahapuranas (~11,000 verses).
108 chapters 6,726 versesCatalogue records 11,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
कूर्मपुराणKurma Purana
One of the 18 Mahapuranas (~17,000 verses).
95 chapters 5,572 verses selected · 17,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
Smritis
मनुस्मृतिManusmriti
The most important ancient legal text of Hinduism, covering dharma, social duties, ethics, laws, and the four varnas.
12 chapters 1,783 versesCatalogue records 2,684 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Other Texts
विवेकचूडामणिVivekachudamani
Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, containing 580 verses on the discrimination between the real (Self) and the unreal (world).
1 chapter 577 versesCatalogue records 580 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Other Texts
ब्रह्मसूत्रBrahma Sutra
The foundational text of Vedanta philosophy by Vyasa, consisting of 555 aphorisms (sutras) systematizing the Upanishads.
4 chapters 564 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Other Texts
दुर्गासप्तशतीDurga Saptashati
Also known as Devi Mahatmyam, a 700-verse hymn glorifying Goddess Durga from the Markandeya Purana.
13 chapters 634 versesCatalogue records 700 verses
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Reading level: Intermediate
Other Texts
योगवासिष्ठYoga Vasishtha
The Yoga Vasistha Maharamayana (~32,000 verses, 6 Prakaranas) — the most philosophically sophisticated non-dual text in Sanskrit.
6 chapters 13 verses selected · 32,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
tantra
रावण संहिताRavana Samhita
A five-volume Tantra text attributed to Ravana — Brahmin scholar-king, supreme Shiva-devotee, composer of the Shiva Tandava Stotram, inventor of the…
19 chapters 43 verses selected · 12,500 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
tantra
शिवसंहिताShiva Samhita
One of the three classical Hatha Yoga texts (~645 verses, 5 chapters), narrated by Shiva to Parvati.
4 chapters 8 verses selected · 645 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
tantra
शिवस्वरोदयShiva Swarodaya
A 395-verse Tantric dialogue between Shiva and Parvati — the complete science of Svara Yoga, unique in the tradition for being entirely practical and…
4 chapters 11 verses selected · 395 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
tantra
योगरसायनम्Yoga Rasayanam
The Yoga Rasayanam — Sanskrit text on the alchemical and rejuvenative dimensions of yogic practice with Hindi translation.
3 chapters 6 verses selected · 120 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
stotra
विनयपत्रिकाVinaya Patrika
The Vinaya Patrika ('Letter of Humility') — 279 lyrical petitions by Goswami Tulsidas in Brajbhasha, addressed to Ganesha, Shiva, the Sun, Yamuna,…
4 chapters 8 verses selected · 279 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
ब्रह्मवैवर्तपुराणBrahmavaivarta Purana
The Brahmavaivarta Purana (~18,000 verses, 4 Khandas) — one of the 18 Mahapuranas, unique in presenting Krishna as Para-Brahman.
4 chapters 10 verses selected · 18,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
वामनपुराणVamana Purana
The Vamana Purana (~10,000 verses, 96 chapters) — one of the 18 Mahapuranas, narrated by Pulastya to Narada.
95 chapters 5,558 versesCatalogue records 10,000 verses
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Reading level: Advanced
Puranas
वाराहपुराणVaraha Purana
The Varaha Purana (~24,000 verses, 217 chapters) — one of the 18 Mahapuranas, narrated by Vishnu as Varaha (Boar avatar, 3rd Dashavatara) to Bhudevi…
3 chapters 10 verses selected · 24,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate
Puranas
वायुपुराणVayu Purana
The Vayu Purana — one of the oldest Mahapuranas (~24,000 verses, 2 Khandas), narrated by Wind god Vayu at Naimisharanya.
232 chapters 7,641 verses selected · 24,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
Itihasa
विदुरनीतिVidura Niti
Vidura Niti — counsel of Vidura to Dhritarashtra from Mahabharata Udyoga Parva (~560 verses).
8 chapters 284 versesCatalogue records 560 verses
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Reading level: Introductory
Puranas
स्कन्दपुराणSkanda Purana
The largest of the 18 Mahapuranas (~81,000 verses, 7 Khandas), narrated by Skanda (Kartikeya) to sage Agastya.
116 chapters 6,464 verses selected · 81,000 in the full text
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Reading level: Advanced
Smritis
नित्य कर्म क्रियाNitya Karma Kriya
Daily religious rituals and observances prescribed in Hindu Dharma.
5 chapters 16 verses selected · 51 in the full text
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Reading level: Intermediate