1839.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



389 



inconsolable for the loss of his wife, had many great sacrifices perform* 

 ed : and at length rejoined her in Brahma's world. Nahhi, the eldest 

 of the nine, performed a sacrifi e, directed to Vishnu, fur the sake of 

 offspring. Vishnu appeared, and gave him a promise that he would 

 himself be born as the son of N&bhi. This promise was accomplished 

 in the birth of Rishabha (always reckoned among the subordinate in- 

 carnations of Vishnu, and a leading personage with the Jamais). Botb 

 father and mother relinquished their rule; giving it into the hands of 

 Rishabha : they then retired to an ascetic life, and finally were beati- 

 fied. Indra gave his daughter in marriage to Rishabha (Symbol for a 

 felicitous marriage). Bharata, and one hundred other children, were 

 born : and as Bharata ruled the country, it was called Bharatacandam 

 (the country south of Himalaya). The different portions of his sons 

 are specified. Some of them performed ritual ceremonies, and became 

 Brahmans. Rishabha relinquished all his possessions; and went away, 

 followed by his children., He advised them to leave off the use of cere- 

 monies, and to practise justice, and charity, with similar instructions ; 

 which (in their place) are of superior character. 



Paricshit, interrupting the narrative, enquires of Suca why Rishabha 

 relinquished his possessions. Suca replies, detailing those reasons ; 

 the tendency being to enforce such a renunciation. Death of Rishabha, 

 Account of Bharata. He was guilty of misconduct ; and, as the result, 

 in transmigration was born as a deer. Dojng penance, his former sense 

 returned ; and, in another transit, he was born a Brahman. A chief 

 being without children vowed to present to Durga, a Narabali, or hu- 

 man sacrifice. Bharata was caught by the people, sent out for the 

 purpose, and by them was forcibly carried to a shrine of Call. He 

 was painted red, and covered with red flowers, and other ornaments. 

 The said numen was greatly incensed; came forth ; drew her sword; 

 cut off the heads of the people, who had brought the purposed victim j 

 danced about, holding their bleeding heads in her hands ; drank the 

 blood as it streamed from those heads ; and then retired within her 

 dwelling, satisfied. The maha purusha (or Brahman) thought that 

 certainly Vishnu was present (as a preserver), and then retired to 

 the fields again. It so happened that a king of Sindhu-desam 

 became desirous of going to visit a sage, who had obtained high 

 repute for teaching the talva system. The people of this king 

 pressed the before mentioned Brahman as a palanquin bearer. He 

 meekly yielded ; but, in the effort, was quite inferior to the other 

 bearers : and could not carry his burden even, or without jolting. The 

 raja, being displeased, enquired why the other palanquin bearers com- 



