228 Analysis of the Purdnas. [June, 



has saved the author of the Bha'gavat y the original of the greater part 

 of the story, from any such gross extravagancies. 



The hero of the festivities, steals the curds in the next chapter, for 

 which he is tied to a tree, and gets a whipping from his foster mother 

 Yasoda. After she leaves him, the tree falls, and from it emerges Nala- 

 kuvera, the son of Kuvera, condemned to this metamorphosis, for 

 indecent behaviour in the presence of Devala* Muni. 



A long chapter is next occupied with the praises of Ra'dha' by 

 Krishna and Brahma', which inculcate her supremacy over all other 

 divinities, male or female, and her being inseparable from and one 

 with Krishna. The sports of the juvenile god are then related, and 

 his destruction of the demons Vaka, Kesi, and Pralamba; the con- 

 struction of palaces at Gokula, for all its inhabitants, by Viswakerma', 

 the divine architect, of whose architectural exploits, the village of Gokula 

 now offers no vestiges. This part of the work comprises the history of 

 Vrishabhanu, and his wife Kala'vati, the parents of Radha, and 

 who were rewarded by her birth, for the virtues of their former exis- 

 tence, as Suciiandra, a king of the family of Menu, and Kala'vati, 

 a will-born daughter of the Pitris or progenitors of mankind. This 

 story includes a dissertation upon the virtues of women. 



Several chapters follow, partly describing the actions of Krishna, 

 and partly expatiating upon his excellencies and those of Radha. 



A legend of Sahasika, the son of the son of Bali, follows, who was 

 turned "into an ass, by the curse of Durvasas, for having disturbed the 

 meditation of that sage, in the prosecution of his amours with Tilot- 

 tama, a nymph of heaven. On the penitence of the couple, Durvasas 

 announced to them, that the ass should be destroyed by the discus of 

 Krishna, in consequence of which, the spirit of Sahasika should 

 receive final emancipation, and that Tilottama should be born the 

 daughter of Banasura, in which capacity, she should become the 

 bride of Aniruddha, the grandson of Krishna. 



The marriage of Durvasas with Kadali, the daughter of Aurva 

 Muniy is the next legend ; in this, the violent temper of his wife excites 

 the sage's wrath, and he reduces her to ashes. Repenting subsequently 

 of his anger, and soothed by the appearance of Brahma, he changes 

 the remains of his wife into a plantain tree. The same sage is the sub- 

 ject of another legend of great celebrity amongst the Vaishnavas, as 

 illustrating Krishna's superiority over Siva. Durvasas, a votary of 

 that deity, being offended with Ambari'sha a devout worshipper of 

 Vishnu, attempted to destroy him, but was repelled, and narrowly 



* One place has Galava. 



