154 AN ACCOUNT OF THE SCULPTURES 



Thefe circumftances look much like the effects of 

 a fudden inundation ; and the rent in the rock above 

 defcribed, makes it reafonable to conjecture, that an 

 earthquake may have caufed the Tea to overflow its 

 boundaries, and that thefe two formidable enemies may- 

 have joined to deftroy this once magnificent city. The 

 account which the Bramins, natives of the place, gave 

 of its origin and downfal, partly, it fhould feem, on 

 the authority of the Mahabhdrit, and partly on that of 

 later records, at the fame time that it countenances this 

 idea, contains fome other curious particulars, which 

 may feem to render it worthy of attention. Nor ought 

 it to be rejected on account of that fabulous garb, in 

 which all nations, but efpecially thofe of the eaft, have 

 always clad the events of early ages. 



" Hirindchercn (faid they) was a gigantick Prince, 

 " that rolled up the earth into a fhapelefs mafs, and 

 " carried it down to the abyfs, whither ViJJinoo fol- 

 " lowed him in the fhape of an hog, killed him with 

 M his tulks, and replaced the earth in its original fitua- 

 " tion. The younger brother of Hirindcheren was 

 " HirinakaJJap, who fucceeded him in his kingdom, 

 •' and refuled to do homage to Vijknoo. He had a fon, 

 " named Pralhaud, who, at an early age, openly difap- 

 " proved this part of his father's conduct, being under 

 " the tuition of Sokerdchdrj. His father persecuted 

 " him on this account, bamfhed him, and even fought 

 " to kill him, but was prevented by the interpofition 

 " of heaven, which appeared on the fide of Pralhaud. 

 *' At length HirinakaJJap was foftened, and recalled 

 u his fon to his court, where, as he fat in full affem- 

 " bly, he began again to argue with him againfl the 

 M fupremacy of Vi/Imoo, boafted that he himfelf was 

 " lord of all the vilible world, and afked what Vi/h- 

 " noo could pretend to more. Pralhaud replied, that 

 44 Vijhnoo had no fixed abode, but was prefent every 

 •' where. l Is he (faid his father) in that pillar ?' ' Yes/ 

 " returned Pralhaud. " Then let him come forth," 

 3 " faid 



