This chapter describes Maharaja Parikshit's attainment of liberation, Maharaja Janamejaya's performance of sacrifice for killing all snakes, the origin of the Vedas, and Srila Vedavyasa's dividing of the Vedic literature.

After hearing the words of Sri Sukadeva, Maharaja Parikshit stated that by having listened to the Bhagavatam, which is the compendium of the Puranas and which is full of the nectarean pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Uttamahsloka, Parikshit had attained the transcendental position of fearlessness and oneness with the Supreme. His ignorance had been dispelled, and by the mercy of Sri Sukadeva he had gained sight of the supremely auspicious personal form of God, namely the Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari. As a result, he had cast aside all fear of death. Sri Parikshit Maharaja then begged Sukadeva Gosvami to permit him to fix his heart upon the lotus feet of Lord Hari and give up his life. Granting this permission, Sri Sukadeva rose and departed. Subsequently Maharaja Parikshit, free of all doubts, sat down in yogic posture and merged himself in meditation upon the Supersoul. Then the snake-bird Takshaka, arriving in the disguise of a brahmana, bit him, and the body of the saintly king immediately burned to ashes.

Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, became very angry when he received news of his father's death, and he began a sacrificial performance for the purpose of destroying all the snakes. Even though Takshaka received protection from Indra, he nevertheless became attracted by the mantras and was about to fall into the fire. Seeing this, Brihaspati, the son of Angira Rishi, came and advised Maharaja Janamejaya that Takshaka could not be killed because he had drunk the nectar of the demigods. Furthermore, Angira said that all living entities must enjoy the fruits of their past activities. Therefore the king should give up this sacrifice. Janamejaya was thus convinced by the words of Brihaspati and stopped his sacrifice.

Thereafter Suta Gosvami, in response to questions from Sri Saunaka, described the divisions of the Vedas. From the heart of the topmost demigod, Brahma, came the subtle transcendental vibration, and from this subtle sound vibration arose the syllable om, greatly potent and self-luminous. Using this omkara, Lord Brahma created the original Vedas and taught them to his sons, Marici and others, who were all saintly leaders of the brahmana community. This body of Vedic knowledge was handed down through the disciplic succession of spiritual masters until the end of Dvapara-yuga, when Lord Vyasadeva divided it into four parts and instructed various schools of sages in these four samhitas. When the sage Yajnavalkya was rejected by his spiritual master, he had to give up all the Vedic mantras he had received from him. To obtain new mantras of the Yajur Veda, Yajnavalkya worshiped the Supreme Lord in the form of the sun-god. Sri Suryadeva subsequently fulfilled his prayer.