Dírghabáhu

Aja

Ambarísha

Raghu

Dírghabáhu

Nahusha

Aja

Ajapála

Yayáti

Daśaratha

Daśaratha

Nábhága

Aja

Daśaratha.

[paragraph continues] The Váyu, Bhágavata, Kúrma, and Linga agree with our text, except in the reading of a few names; as Śataratha for Daśaratha the first; Vairivíra for Ilavila; and Kritasarman, Vriddhasarman, or Vriddhakarman, for Viśwasaha. The Agni and Bráhma and Hari Vanśa agree with the second series, with similar occasional exceptions; shewing that the Puráńas admit two series, differing in name, but agreeing in number. The Rámáyańa, however, differs from both in a very extraordinary manner, and the variation is not limited to the cases specified, as it begins with Bhagíratha, as follows:

Puráńas.

Rámáyańa.

Bhagíratha

Bhagíratha

Śruta

Kakutshtha

Nábhága

Raghu

Ambarísha

Kalmáshapáda

Sindhudwípa

Ayutáśwa

Rituparńa

Sarvakáma

Sudása

Kalmáshapáda.

[paragraph continues] The entire Pauráńik series comprises twenty descents, and that of the Rámáyańa sixteen. Some of the last names of the poem occur amongst the first of those of the Puráńas, but there is an irreconcilable difference in much of the nomenclature. The Agni, under the particular account of the descent of Ráma, has for his immediate predecessors Raghu, Aja, Daśaratha, as in our text; and the author of the Raghu Vanśa agrees with the Puráńas from Dilípa downwards.

385:16 This is an epitome of the Rámáyańa, the heroic poem of Válmíki, on the subject of Ráma's exploits. A part of the Rámáyańa was published, with a translation by Messrs. Carey and Marshman, several years since; but a much more correct edition of the text of the two first books, with a Latin translation of the first, and part of the second, have been more recently published by Professor Schlegel; a work worthy of his illustrious name. A summary of the story may be found in Sir Wm. Jones's Works, Maurice's Hindustan, Moor's Pantheon, &c. It is also the subject of the Uttara Ráma Charitra in the Hindu Theatre, in the introduction to which an outline of the whole is given. The story is therefore, no doubt, sufficiently familiar even to English readers. It seems to be founded on historical fact; and the traditions of the south of India uniformly ascribe its civilization, the subjugation or dispersion of its forest tribes of barbarians, and the settlement of civilized Hindus, to the conquest of Lanká by Ráma.