1832.] Analysis of the Purdnas. 233 



The Purdna properly closes here, at the end of the 128th chapter ; 

 but Nareda, who has been its auditor, now hears from the narrator 

 Narayana, that he, Naked a, was in his former life, a Gandharva, the 

 husband of 50 wives, one of whom is reborn, as well as himself, and by 

 the boon of Siva, is to be once more his bride. Nareda submits rather 

 reluctantly, and shortly after his marriage with the daughter of Skin jay a, 

 who is declared to be one with Maya', run away from his -wife to per- 

 form penance, through which he is united with Ham. 



A supplementary chapter, the 130th, follows, in which Su'ta, the 

 ordinary narrator or recapitulator of the Purdnas, relates two legends, 

 explaining the birth of Fire from Brahma', and of gold from Fire. Chap- 

 ter 131 is a short index to the Purdnas. The last chapter, 132, 

 enumerates the different Pardnas and Upapurdnas, the five works called 

 Panchardtra, and the five Sanhitds or compendia of the Vaishnava 

 faith. It is also remarkable for its definition of the Mahdbhdrat, and the 

 Rdmdyana, the former of which it terms a Itihdsa, or history, aqd the 

 latter a Kdvya, or poem : the work terminates with a eulogium on itself ; 

 the attentively hearing of one quarter of averse of which, is equal in 

 merit to the gift of the heaven of Krishna. 



The preceding sketch of the contents and character of this work 

 will probably have furnished sufficient evidence of its modern origin. 

 It is clearly subsequent to the great body of Hindu literature, not only 

 by the enumeration just noticed, but by reference to the several phi- 

 losophical systems, the Terka, Vaisheshika, Sdnkhya, Pdtcuijala, 

 Memdnsa, and Veddnta, which occurs in a preceding passage. Its being 

 the latest of the Purdnas is also apparent from its own avowal of its be- 

 ing intended to clear up the discrepancies observable in those works, and 

 by the frequent assertion, that the legends it gives, particularly 

 those respecting Gane'sa, are not to be met with in the other Purdnas. 

 That it was compiled subsequent to the Mohammedan invasion, is very 

 probable, from the allusions it contains to the supremacy of Mlechha 

 rulers ; and the particular branch of the Hindu system which it ad- 

 vocates, renders it likely to have emanated from a sect, which there 

 is reason to imagine originated about four centuries ago with Valla- 

 bhacharya and the Gosains oiGokula. 



U H 



