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12
DHURTAKHYANA!
Kreps is ubiquitous and all-pervasive'; then where is the need of his thinking about those (Gopis) who are anxious for him! There are many other unbelievable legends current in the world, such as, the origin of (Pavana) Ganapati from the limbs of Parvati; the births of Brahman, Tilottama, Urvasi, Drons and Sanmukha; the release of Narakübara through Krsna; the procreation of Svedakundala through anger and that of Nara (i. e., Raktakundala) from a pot of blood; and the birth of Yadava Balarama through Maya's mediation. Parvati was the daughter of mountain: if mountains are to deliver children, the world would be too small for human population. These and such other stories from the Bharata and Ramayana are like artificial gold; and they do not stand the test of rational scrutiny. The popular scriptures do not contain any attractive stuff. Leaving them, therefore, one should follow the path preached by the Sarvajfia with a steady and pure faith. (V. 111-22).
This fine Katha, with its various legends, has been narrated to the pious residents of Citrakata; it has been composed by Haribhadrasüri for purifying the faith; and may it bestow bhava-viraha on the faithful who hear and narrate it. (V. 123-24).
Let Haribhadra, the Svetämbara Süri, who has such a faith in the brilliant Jaina doctrine, bestow welfare on us. (V. 125).
3. Purpose, Technique and Form
Whatever may be their historical explanation and symbolical signi fication, there are innumerable legends, scattered all over the epics and Puranas, which, on account of some detail or the other, are unnatural, inconsistent, exaggerated and unacceptable to reason. The 'precious blossoms of immortal poetic art and profound wisdom' seen in the epics are often overpowered by an array of irrational legends. "It is only unpoetical theologians and commentatora and clumsy copyists who have succeeded in conglomerating into a heterogeneous mass parts which are actually incompatible and which date. from different centuries." What is true of the Mahabharata is much more true about the Puranas which are well-known for their sectarian multiplication of myths and legends and hyperbolic exaggeration of details. Even from amongst the custodians and adherents of these texts the revisionists have tried their hands on them partly to make the legends conform to the changing ethico-moral notions and partly to rationalise and humanise them by removing glaring inconsistencies etc. This is amply borne out by the recensions and textual variations detected by critical editors. The episode of Draupadi's
1 Some of these verses present difficulties for interpretation.
2 Is there any implication here that Ganapati was the leader of the party of Maruts!
3 The phrase Cittauda-dugga-siri clearly refers to the ancient fort on the crest of the hill. For its description, see Peterson's Reports, I, pp. 46 f.
4 Winternitz: A History of Indian Literature, I, p. 328. The Adiparvan, Poona 1933, Prolegomena, p. 431.
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