See main article: Bhagavata Purana. Based primarily on the earliest known written references of Abhinavagupta and Al-Biruni, academics estimate the date of origin of the Bhagavata Purana to be between 800–1000 C.E.
It is impossible to accurately date Vedic literature as Indian culture emphasised oral tradition over written. Therefore Vedic literature was spoken long before being written:
Indian culture also emphasised intertextuality (e.g. recycling, elaborating, and reprocessing existing stories, teachings, etc.) over novelty, meaning Vedic literature shared common elements between one another (e.g. philosophies, themes, genealogies, myths, etc.):
Many elements, such as the Vamana avatar of Vishnu (Sanskrit वामन, meaning 'dwarf' or 'small or short in stature';[1] eighth canto of the Bhagavata), can be traced back directly to the Rig Veda, the most ancient scripture:
From the Rig Veda itself:
Matchett makes the same citation to Hardy as Sheridan (addressed above) and another to Rocher (addressed below).
The reference to Ludo Rocher:
In part 2 of the same work – after discussing the belief amongst some (including H.H. Wilson) that Vopadeva was the author of the Bhagavata Purana (discredited, see §Al-Biruni, above) – Rocher duly provided a table of some estimated dates of origin, reproduced below from page 147 (notably, Vyasa is incorrectly attributed to have composed the scripture between 900–800 B.C., not at the onset of Kali Yuga as stated in the scripture, calculated to have occurred around 3100 B.C.):
| Speculated Date of Origin | Proponent / Author / Translator | |
|---|---|---|
| 1200–1000 B.C. | S.D. Gyani (Date of the Puranas, NIA 5, 1942–43, 132) | |
| 900–800 B.C. | Vyasa (Bhagavata 1974: 34–35) | |
| A.D. 200–300 | Ramachandra Dikshitar (1951 – 55, 1.xxix) | |
| 300–400 | Tagare (Bhagavata tr. 1.xxxiv – xxxvii) | |
| 400–500 | Krishnamurti Sarma (Bhag. 1932–33: 190–218); Rukmani (Bhag. 1970: 12–14) | |
| 500–550 | Harza (Bhag. 1938: 525; cf. 1940: 53–55; 1958: 240n. 312) | |
| 500–600 | Majumdar (Bhag. 1961: 384; Bhag. 1966: 118); – Sharma (Bhag. 1978) |