These episodes occupy three fourths of the poem, and from them are derived most of the legends of the Puranas.

A supplement, which is itself a longer poem than the Iliad and Odyssey combined (which together contain about thirty thousand lines), is the source of the modern worship of Krishna.

The whole poem represents the multilateral character of Hinduism.

It indicates a higher degree of civilization than that of the Homeric poems, and describes a vast variety of fruits and flowers existing under culture.

The characters are nobler and purer than those of Homer.
The pictures of domestic and social life are very touching; children are dutiful to their parents, parents careful of their children; wives are loyal and obedient, yet independent in their opinions; and peace reigns in the domestic circle.
The different works known as the Puranas are derived from the same religious system as the two epics.