524:4 These nomadic habits are entirely lost sight of in the parallel passages of those Puráńas in which the juvenile life of Krishńa is narrated. The text of the Hari Vanśa is in most of the other verses precisely the same as that of the Vishńu P., putting however into the mouth of Krishńa a long additional eulogium on the season of autumn.

525:5 The Hari Vanśa says, 'an illusory Krishńa, having become the mountain, ate the flesh that was offered.' Of course the 'personified' mountain is intended, as appears from several of the ensuing passages; as for instance, he says presently, 'I am satisfied; and then in his divine form he smiled.' The Hari Vanśa affords here, as in so many other places, proofs of its Dakhini origin. It is very copious upon the homage paid to the cattle, and their decoration with garlands and plumes of peacocks' feathers, of which our text takes no notice. But in the south of India there is a very popular festival, that of the Punjal, scarcely known in the north, when cattle are decorated and worshipped; a celebration which has no doubt suggested to the compiler of the Hari Vanśa the details which he describes.

Next: Chapter XI

Hinduism

« Previous: The Vishnu Purana: Book V: Chapter IX

Next: The Vishnu Purana: Book V: Chapter XI »