Five volume set varies in condition by book: two voulmes show light bumps to corners only, vol. II has a very bad bump to upper corners, apparently a shipping problem; vols. III, IV and V are bumped pretty well at bottom spine. Vol. V has an impact mark middle back cover. Text/interiors are clean and free of marking of any kind with notable variations in paper quality through the five vols. Books appear unread and the first book has a note from the shipper: Blackwells of Oxford, England apologising for the condition of the books. typewritten, circa 1950. Publication date is not stated and is estimated. Each book is about 200 pages. Forward reads: The Srimad Bhagavatam was composed by Vyasadeva under instructions from Narada in order to attain that ever-lasting peace which he could not derive even after the composition of the Mahabharata and the compilation of the vedas. Every page of the sacred Purana abounds with charming and enobling hymns in praise of the Almighty God and the Purana describes the divine sports (lila) of the Lord in detail, so that even a mere reading of the sacred book ensures some amount of spiritual progress to the most ordinary man. This sacred piece of literature is invaluable to the adept who discovers in it all the secret mysteries of spiritual discipline (Sadhana), and pleasing to the ordinary man who finds himself absorbed in the charming narratives about the birth and the action of Sri Krishna. Like the Bhagavat Gita, it is a wonderful book of synthesis and the narrow partisan spirit displayed by the Purana literature in general is entirely absent from it. Jnana, Bhakti and Karma are assigned their respective spheres; Karma is prescribed for the attached (Askata), Jnana, for the detached (Virakta), and Bhatti for those who are neither very much attached nor very much detached and indifferent. It preches Bhagavat-dharma, or the religion of Love that is as universal in application as catholic in its principles, that is as safe as sure, as easy as efficacious. Contents include: Description of the divine glories, Approach of Narada, Interview between Narada and Vyasa, Invocation by Kunti, Description of Parikshit's Birth, Dhritarashtra renounces the world, Query of the king Yudhishthira to Arjuna, Yudhishthira and his brothers repair to Heaven, Suppression of Kali, etc.
