1832.] Analysis of the Pur anas. 229 



escaped destruction himself by the Chakra or discus of Vishnu, 

 which came to the assistance of the king. The merits of fasting on 

 the eleventh day of the fortnight, are the subject of the next chapter, 

 and they are followed by an explanation of the eight names of Durga 

 which again is relieved by a story of Krishna, carrying away and 

 hiding the clothes of the nymphs of Gokula, whilst they were bathing in 

 the Jumna. He gives up his booty upon being prayed to by Radha, 

 in the usual strain, eulogising his divine supremacy, and identification 

 with all things known or unknown. Several legends of minor importance 

 follow, to the 32nd chapter, when that, and the two following, are occu- 

 pied with the advances made by Mohini, a heavenly nymph to Brahma, 

 and his insensibility, in resentment of which she curses him, that he 

 shall not receive any adoration from mankind ; the effects of which 

 malediction are said to be evinced in the neglect which Brahma 

 experienced from the professors of the Hindu faith. 



The attention of the work is next directed, through a series of chapters, 

 to the legends of the Saiva faith, or Brahma's discomfiture by Siva, 

 the asceticism of the latter, his marriage with Sati, the daughter of 

 Daksha, her burning herself, and Siva's second marriage with Parvati 

 the daughter of Himalaya. Stories of Vrishaspati, Indra, Vahni, 

 Durvasas, and Dhanwantari then follow. All these legends are 

 supposed to be narrated by Krishna to Radha, for her entertainment; 

 and their general purport is to shew, that the personages to whom they 

 refer, are immeasurably inferior to Krishna, and his votaries. 



Some cases are then recorded of the humiliation of the leading perso- 

 nages of the Hindu Pantheon, in consequence of their incurring the 

 displeasure of Krishna or some of his followers. Vishnu, whilst boast- 

 ing himself the god of all, was swallowed by Krishna in the form of 

 a Bhairava^ all but his head, and was restored to his form, on recovering 

 his senses. Brahma', whilst making a similar vaunt, was surprised to 

 behold multitudes of Brahmas and Brahmdndas, or creations distinct 

 from himself and his works ; and Siva was condemned to pay the penal- 

 ty of his pride, by his marriage with Sati, and distraction for her loss, 

 which were the delusions of Krishna. 



The 62nd chapter contains a summary account of Ramachandra, 

 and the next ten proceed with an account of the transactions that imme- 

 diately preceded Krishna's departure from Vrinda'van for Mathura' y 

 whether he was attracted, with his supposed father Nanda, by a spe- 

 cial invitation from Kansa, his uncle, with a view to his destruction, at 

 a sacrifice offered to Siva. The result of this visit is the death of 

 Kansa, as described in other Puranas ; but there is no detail of the 



