Bhattadeva,
in the Dasama rendering of his Katha Bhagavata, makes a clear mention
of the Bhagavata tradition in Assam:
he sabhāsadasava, pūrbbata
santa mahanta mahāguṇavanta śrī śaṅkare śrībhāgavata śāstrara
paẏāra kari lokata
bhakti panthā
pravarttāilā, yāka pāi antya jātio saṃsāra tarilā. pāche tāra
avaśeṣa kathā
ananta kandali pada racilā . tāko dekhi moro kṛṣṇaguṇa barṇāite
manata icchā hailā . tāka jāni śrīkṛṣṇe śrī dāmodararūpe ājñā dilā .
eteke mañi ṭīkā-bhāṣya anusāre saṃkṣepe kathā
nibandhilo .
“O members of the assembly! In
the past, Sri Sankara, saint, exemplar-devotee and one endowed with great
qualities, had composed verses of the Bhagavata
scripture and propagated for the first time the path of pure devotion among the
people; obtaining which, even the lowest of the low castes survived samsara. Later, Ananta Kandali had made verses
out of the leftover sections. Seeing that, I also had a wish in mind to describe
the glories of Krsna. Knowing that, Lord Krsna, in Sri Damodara’s form, gave me
permission. Therefore, I, following the notes and commentaries, have composed,
in abbreviated form, the (Bhagavata) katha.”