230 Analysis of the Purdnas. [June, 



previous wrestling, which occurs in the Bhagavat. On taking final 

 leave of his foster father Nanda, Krishna favours him with a code of 

 regulations, for his moral and religious conduct : he is not to look at a sin- 

 gle star, nor the setting sun or moon ; not to keep company with the 

 wicked, nor to injure or insult Brdhmans, cows, and Vaishnavas ; not 

 to delay payment of the due fees to the priest who officiates at a cere- 

 mony; not to eat flesh or fish; not to vilify Siva, Durga, or Ganapati; 

 and on no account to omit every possible demonstration of his love for 

 Hari. These injunctions extend to a great length, and are all of as 

 little importance as the above. There are some curious denunciations, 

 however, against acts which are lawful in the institutes of Menu ; and 

 no distinction is here made between a Brahman who follows the pro- 

 fession of arms, and one who marries a woman of the Sudra caste. 

 There is also a singular leaning shown to the Saiva faith, and 

 the man who forms a single Siva-linga of clay, is said to reside in 

 heaven for 100 Kalpas. The following scale is given of Krishna's 

 affections : u Of all tribes the Brahman is most esteemed by me, 

 Lakshmi' is still more beloved than a Brahman, Radha' is dearer to 

 me than Lakshmi', a faithful worshipper is dearer than Radha, and 

 Sankara is the best beloved of all." The instructions to Nanda 

 comprise also a dissertation upon dreams, upon knowledge of the 

 divine nature, and on the duties of the different castes and orders 

 of the Hindus, on the duties of women, and the expiation of 

 offences. This division of the work extends from the 75th to the 85th 

 chapter. 



A legend of the birth of Vrinda, the daughter of Kedara, next 

 follows: from her, Vrinddvan, or as usually termed Bindrdban, derives 

 its appellation, she being identified with Radha in her birth at that 

 place. This chapter is followed by several others of a very miscellane- 

 ous character, in which Brahma, Siva, and the Munis eulogise 

 Krishna's power. The next sections are occupied with the mission of 

 Uddhava from Krishna to Gokula, to bear intelligence of the latter 

 to his parents and his mistresses ; and we have then a short detail of the 

 usual Pauranik chronology : Uddhava returns to Krishna, and we 

 have then a narrative of Krishna's being invested with the thread of 

 his tribe ; he then prosecutes his studies under Sandi'pani Muni, and 

 at their close relinquishes the garb of a cowherd for the robes of a 

 king, presentisig to his Guru four lacs of diamonds, an equal number 

 of other sorts of gems, five lacs of pearls, a necklace worn by Durga, 

 dresses worth all the treasures of the world, and ten crores of Suvarnds, 

 or certain measures of gold : — puerile exaggerations, which although not 



