190 Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts. [March, 



lord Parames varer, its virtues and beneficial tendencies are announced, 

 great virtues of its writer : great advantages will result to its readers. 



The Purdna opens with a reference to Vrjshab'ha Svdmi, who lived in 

 the centre of the southern portion of the land of Bharata in Jumbu dwi- 

 pa, (central Hindustan,) an early Chucruverti (or ruler) came to him, and 

 begged to know all customs, differences of times, and other matters from 

 the time of Susum an. The svdmi favorably received his request and taught 

 him the Mulatantra, or principal system, which was delivered by Gau- 

 tama to SRENiCA,the great king, and consisted of 455,442,003,100,530 

 stanzas. This, the great Purdna, is taught from age to age. The 

 account is then conducted as if repeating what Gautama stated to 

 Srenica, a specification of the various yogas, that is, religious rites 

 or modes of worship. A reference to Svayambhuva Manu and the 

 matters which occurred in his time introducing the mention of the 

 Ulsarpani and Avasarpini periods ; the former prosperous as following 

 the renovation of all things after the periodical deluge ; the latter adverse, 

 as going before and preparing for the destroying and purifying deluge. 

 (See MS. book, No. 12, Section 1.) The peopling of the Bharata can* 

 dam, (or continent of India) with the Manus, Chacravertis, and people 

 is next adverted to. The prompt justice and equity of the Chacravertis 

 in the punishment of crime. The book then mentions various matters, 

 concerning the world, countries, towns, kingdoms, sacred rivers or pools, 

 donations, penance, in detail. In those times men believed in only one 

 creator, who created men good and evil, not according to his own pur- 

 pose of mind, but according to their good and evil deeds in a former 

 state of existence. Afterwards the bounds and the nature of the Bhara- 

 ta candam (or upper India) are stated, its hills, peaks of mountains, &c. 

 The great city of Alacapuri, on the northern portion, its ruler was Athi- 

 pasen king of the Vidyddharas, (a species of celestial): he considered 

 the luxury of kingly rule to be like smelling a poisonous flower, and 

 relinquished the kingdom, devolving it on his son ; and, becoming a naked 

 ascetic, he was initiated into the Jaina system. Details are given of that 

 system. Mahapalen governed, he had four ministers, two of whose 

 names were Mahamathi and Svayamputti. One day Svayam- 

 putti, being a distinguished person among the Jainas, asked the king 

 some questions of a religious character to which the king replied, and 

 they both agreed that the body dies, yet that the Jivan (life or soul) 

 does not die. A story is narrated in illustration ; to the advantage of 

 the Jaina system. Various accounts are given of persons who by acts of 

 merit according to the Jaina belief, obtained beatification. Some ac- 



