Skandam 1 (Canto One) of the Srimad‑Bhagavatam, attributed to Vyāsa, opens this great Purāṇic epic. It frames the sacred recital at Naimiṣāraṇya, outlines cosmic genesis and the ordering of worlds, and surveys sage and royal lineages. Philosophically it establishes Nārāyaṇa as ultimate reality, explains māyā and saṃsāra, and points to bhakti—devotional love—as the supreme means of liberation. Historically foundational to medieval Bhakti movements, this canto forged the Purāṇa’s devotional cosmology and guru‑śiśya tradition. Today its luminous myths, ethical exemplars and emphasis on heartfelt devotion continue to inform spiritual practice, arts, and moral reflection, offering solace and direction in a fragmented modern world.