183S.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscri'pts. 



225 



sued her, she being in the form of a cow (the hieroglyphic, or symbol, 

 of plentiful production). At length tired out she knelt at his feet to do 

 him homage ; and said " if you kill me, the people will suifer." She 

 recommended him to procure the calf which had been suckled by her ; 

 and, by means of milk drawn from it, all gifts would be obtained. As a 

 result Svayanihhu* appeared in form as a calf. Many personages, celes- 

 tial as well as terrestrial, obtained benefits by turning rings, and other 

 jewels, or valuables, into calves. Among other things the Sunt was me- 

 tamorphosed into a calf In this way (explained more at length in the 

 purana) Pi ifhu obtained benefits, extending to all classes of beings, and 

 things. In consequence the earth thence acquired the name of Prifhiviy 

 that is the daughter of PrWliu. He built various towns ; and on his 

 purposing to perform a hundred asvamedha y a gams (horse sacrifices), 

 the purchase if successful of Iridra's throne (that is the highest possible 

 prosperity), the said Pritliivi spontaneously supplied him with all the re- 

 quisites for so extraordinary a service. He succeeded to the extent of 

 ninety-nine of these sacrifices (that is, his prosperity was as great, as can 

 fall to the lot of any mortal). I ndr a covldi endure no longer, as his 

 throne was in danger. Accordingly he stole the hundredth horse, and 

 took it up to the sky. Atri the great rishi, saw the theft, and told the son 

 of Prifhu, who took bow and arrows in hand and followed ; but, seeing 

 Indra look so much like Isvara, he was afraid to discharge any arrow 

 against him ; till being encouraged, by being told that it was only Indra, 

 he went on to the assault. Indra disappeared, and the valiant son of 

 Prit'hu brought the horse back to the place of sacrifice. The rishis 

 praised his prowess, and termed him Siddha-siva which became his 

 name. Indra did not relinquish his purpose ; but the next day privately 

 came as a Sanniyasi (ascetic) and again took away the horse. Siddha- 

 siva, perceiving the ascetic to be no other than Indra in disguise, pursu- 

 ed him and shot at him an arrow : Indra fled ; and the horse was again 

 recovered. 



Some persons, now a days (adds the writer) assume the garb which 

 Indra then wore. They are called Cabdli, Bduddhas, Pdshdndas. By 

 these means the Pa.s7mwt^«.s originated. (Pa s Aawfi^a is the Sanscrit term 

 for schismatic, impostor, not i^mc^w; it is use 1 chiefly with reference to 

 the Bauddhas or Jainas : wherever this term occurs, in this purana,% 



* The self existent being ;— the hyperbole is extravagant ; but throughout this pass- 

 ago there is a recondite, and symbolical, meaning, 



t This "Phoebus" is perhaps a little too sublime; but we must remember that the 

 author writes hieroglyphics. 



X A passing remark may not be superfluous,— According to my own view of the ques- 

 tion, for which I have elsewhere given reasons, I do not for my own part, think that the 



