A Prose English Translation of Harivamsha
Title: A Prose English Translation of Harivamsha
Translator: Manmatha Nath Dutt
Release date: April 25, 2020 [eBook #61937]
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61937
Credits: Produced by James Simmons
Transcriber's Note
This book was transcribed from a scan of the original found at Google Books. Words in italics in this etext were italicized in the original book. I have corrected obvious misspellings but I've left variant spellings alone.
A
PROSE ENGLISH TRANSLATION
OF
HARIVAMSHA.
(TRANSLATED LITERALLY INTO ENGLISH PROSE.)
EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY
MANMATHA NATH DUTT, M.A., M.R.A.S.,
RECTOR, KESHUB ACADEMY;
Author of the English Translations of Ramayana, Mahabharata,
Srimadbhagavatam, Vishnupuran, Markandeyapuran,
Bhagavat-Gita and many other works.
CALCUTTA
PRINTED BY H. C. DASS,
Elysium Press, 6.5/2 Beadon Street.
1897
A PROSE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF HARIVAMSHA
HARIVAMSHA
THE PRELUDE.
CHAPTER I. AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRIMEVAL CREATION
CHAPTER II. THE ORIGIN OF MEN: THE BIRTH OF DAKSHA.
CHAPTER III. AN ACCOUNT OF VARIOUS FAMILIES; DAKSHA'S OFFSPRING.
CHAPTER IV. A QUERY REGARDING THE ORIGIN OF THE ARTICLES OF FOOD.
CHAPTER V. AN ACCOUNT OF VENA AND PRITHU.
CHAPTER VI. THE ORIGIN OF THE EARTH.
CHAPTER VII. AN ACCOUNT OF MANWANTARAS.
CHAPTER VIII. DIVISION OF TIME.
CHAPTER IX. ACCOUNT OF THE SUN'S OFFSPRING.
CHAPTER X. VAIVASWATA MANU'S OFFSPRING.
CHAPTER XI. ACCOUNT OF RAIVATA AND HIS SONS.
CHAPTER. XII. THE STORY OF SATYAVRATA.
CHAPTER XIII. THE SAME STORY CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XIV. AN ACCOUNT OF SAGARA.
CHAPTER XV. THE SAME STORY CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XVI. THE ORIGIN OF PITRIS AND FRUITS OF SRADDHAS.
CHAPTER XVII. THE SAME STORY CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XVIII. AN ACCOUNT OF PITRIS.
CHAPTER XIX. BHARADWAJA's FAMILY.
CHAPTER XX. ACCOUNT OF BRAHMADATTA AND THE STRANGE BIRD.
CHAPTER XXI. AN ACCOUNT OF THE SEVEN BRAHMANAS.
CHAPTER XXII. THE CURSE OF THE BIRDS.
CHAPTER XXIII. THE STORY OF THE BIRDS—CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XXIV. BRAHMADATTA RETIRES FROM THE WORLD.
CHAPTER XXV. AN ACCOUNT OF THE BIRTH OF THE MOON.
CHAPTER XXVI. AN ACCOUNT OF PURURAVA.
CHAPTER XXVII. AN ACCOUNT OF ILA'S FAMILY.
CHAPTER XXVIII. AN ACCOUNT OF RAJI AND HIS SONS.
CHAPTER XXIX. AN ACCOUNT OF KASHI KINGS.
CHAPTER XXX. ACCOUNT OF THE KING YAYATI.
CHAPTER XXXI. AN ACCOUNT OF PURU'S FAMILY.
CHAPTER XXXII. AN ACCOUNT OF RICHEYU'S FAMILY.
CHAPTER XXXIII. AN ACCOUNT OF HAIHAYAS AND KARTAVIRYA.
CHAPTER XXXIV. KROUSTHU'S FAMILY.
CHAPTER XXXV. VASUDEVA'S FAMILY.
CHAPTER XXXVI. KROUSHTHU'S FAMILY.
CHAPTER XXXVII. AN ACCOUNT OF VABHRU'S FAMILY.
CHAPTER XXXVIII. AN ACCOUNT OF SWYAMANTAKA JEWEL.
CHAPTER XXXIX. AN ACCOUNT OF AKRURA.
CHAPTER XL. A DESCRIPTION OF VISHNU.
CHAPTER XLI. THE INCARNATIONS OF VISHNU.
CHAPTER XLII. VISHNU'S APPEARANCE.
CHAPTER XLIII. THE PREPARATION OF THE DANAVAS FOR THE BATTLE.
CHAPTER XLIV. ARRANGEMENT OF THE CELESTIAL ARMY.
CHAPTER XLV. THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE GODS AND DEMONS.
CHAPTER XLVI. THE BATTLE OF THE GODS.
CHAPTER XLVII. THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF DANAVAS.
CHAPTER XLVIII. KALANEMI GOES TO VISHNU.
CHAPTER XLIX. ATTRIBUTES OF NARAYANA
CHAPTER L. AN ACCOUNT OF NARAYANASHRAMA.
CHAPTER LI. THE PROPOSAL OF RELIEVING THE EARTH OF HER BURDEN.
CHAPTER LII. THE ASSEMBLY OF THE GODS.
CHAPTER LIII. AN ACCOUNT OF SANTANU'S FAMILY.
CHAPTER LIV. THE BIRTH OF THE DAITYAS.
CHAPTER L.V. VISHNU'S REPLY.
CHAPTER LVI. KANSA IS INFORMED OF HIS DEATH BY NARADA.
CHAPTER LVII. AN ACCOUNT OF THE BIRTH OF DEMONS
CHAPTER LVIII. ATTRIBUTES OF THE GODDESS.
CHAPTER LIX. BIRTH OF KRISHNA AND BALADEVA.
CHAPTER LX. A DESCRIPTION OF VILLAGE VRAJA
CHAPTER LXI. SUPERHUMAN DEEDS OF KRISHNA. HE UPSETS A CARRIAGE AND KILLS PUTANA.
CHAPTER LXII. THE CHILDISH FREAKS OF KRISHNA.
CHAPTER LVIII. KRISHNA WISHES TO GO TO VRINDAVANA AND PRODUCES WOLVES.
CHAPTER LXIV. THEIR DEPARTURE FOR VRINDAVANA.
CHAPTER LXV. AN ACCOUNT OF THE RAINY SEASON.
CHAPTER LXVI. AN ACCOUNT OF KALYA.
CHAPTER LXVII. KRISHNA SUBDUES KALYA.
CHAPTER LXIII. THE DESTRUCTION OF KHARA AND DHENUKA.
CHAPTER LXIV. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE DEMON PRALAMVA
CHAPTER LXX. AN ACCOUNT OF INDRA-YAJNA.
CHAPTER LXXI. KRISHNA PROTESTS AGAINST INDRA-YAJNA: AN ACCOUNT OF AUTUMN.
CHAPTER LXXII. THE REPLY OF THE GOPAS.
CHAPTER LXXIII. INDRA SENDS DOWN PUNISHMENT.
CHAPTER LXXIV. INDRA COMES AND EULOGISES KRISHNA.
CHAPTER LXXV. RASA DANCE.
CHAPTER LXXVI. DEATH OF ARISTHA.
CHAPTER LXXVII. KANSA INVITES KRISHNA AND SENDS AKRURA TO BRING HIM.
CHAPTER LXXVIII. ANDHAKA'S ADVICE TO KANSA.
CHAPTER LXXIX. THE DESTRUCTION OF KESHI.
CHAPTER LXXX. AKRURA GOES TO VRAJA
CHAPTER LXXXI. AKRURA DESCRIBES TO HIM THE MISERIES OF HIS PARENTS.
CHAPTER LXXXII. KRISHNA'S ARRIVAL.
CHAPTER LXXXIII. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MATCH.
CHAPTER LXXXIV. A DESCRIPTION OF THE ARENA.
CHAPTER LXXXV. TRIAL OF ARMS.
CHAPTER LXXXVI. LAMENTATIONS OF KANSA'S WIVES.
CHAPTER LXXXVII. KRISHNA'S REPLY TO UGRASENA.
CHAPTER LXXXVIII. KRISHNA BRINGS BACK HIS PRECEPTOR'S SON FROM THE OCEAN.
CHAPTER LXXXIX. JARASANDHA PREPARES TO ATTACK MATHURA.
CHAPTER XC. JARASANDHA'S ARMY.
CHAPTER XCII. THE BATTLE BETWEEN KRISHNA AND JARASHANDHA.
CHAPTER XCIII. AN ACCOUNT OF HARYASHWA.
CHAPTER XCIV. THE SONS OF YADU AND THEIR CONQUESTS.
CHAPTER XCV. KRISHNA MEETS WITH PARASURAMA.
CHAPTER XCVI. A DESCRIPTION OF THE MOUNT GOMANTA.
CHAPTER XCVII. BALARAMA GETS DRUNK.
CHAPTER XCVIII. JARASANDHA'S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE KINGS.
CHAPTER XCIX. KRISHNA MEETS HIS ENEMY.
CHAPTER C. BATTLE WITH SHRIGALA.
CHAPTER CI. KRISHNA'S ARRIVAL AT MATHURA.
CHAPTER CII. BALADEVA VISITS VRAJA.
CHAPTER CIII. RUKSHMINI'S SWAYAMVARA
CHAPTER CIV. THE MEETING OF KRISHNA AND GARUDA.
CHAPTER CV. JARASANDHA'S ADRESS TO THE KINGS.
CHAPTER CVI. DANTAVAKRAS SPEECH.
CHAPTER CVII. KAISHIKA WORSHIPS KRISHNA.
CHAPTER CVIII. CONVERSATION BETWEEN KRISHNA AND BHISHMAKA.
CHAPTER CIX. JARASANDHA'S PROPOSAL TO INVITE KALAYAVANA.
CHAPTER CX. SHALYA MEETS KALAYAVANA.
CHAPTER CXI. KALAYAVANA AGREES TO KILL KRISHNA.
CHAPTER CXII. UGRASENA RECEIVES KRISHNA.
CHAPTER CXIII. KRISHNA'S PROPOSAL TO GO TO DWARAKA.
CHAPTER CXIV. ACCOUNT OF KALAYAVANA.
CHAPTER CXV. THE LAYING OUT OF DWARKA.
CHAPTER CXVVI. AN ACCOUNT OF RUKSHMI: KRISHNA TAKES AWAY RUKSHMINI.
CHAPTER CXIVII. RUKSHMI ATTACKS KRISHNA AND IS DEFEATED.
CHAPTER CXVIII. MARRIAGE OF RUKSHMAVATI.
CHAPTER CXIX. BALADEVA'S GLORIOUS DEEDS DESCRIBED.
CHAPTER CXX. THE DEFEAT OF THE ASURA NARAKA.
CHAPTER CXXI. KRISHNA VISIT WITH ADITI.
CHAPTER CXXII. THE PRESENT OF THE PARIJATA BY KRISHNA TO RUKSHMINI.
CHAPTER CXXIII. SATYABHAMA'S RESENTMENT AND KESHAVA'S CONSOLATION TO HER.
CHAPTER CXXIV. SATYABHAMA'S GRIEF.
CHAPTER CXXV. THE HISTORY OF THE PARIJATA TREE THE COLOQUY BETWEEN KRISHNA AND NARADA.
CHAPTER CXXVI. THE COLLOQUY BETWEEN NARADA AND INDRA REGARDING THE TRANSPLANTATION OF THE PARIJATA.
CHAPTER CXXVII. NARADA'S ADVICE AND INDRA'S ANSWERS.
CHAPTER CCXVIII. NARADA'S ADVICE.
CHAPTER CCXIX. ATTRIBUTES OF HARI.
CHAPTER CCXX. THE FIGHT BETWEEN KRISHNA AND INDRA.
CHAPTER CCXXI. THE FIGHT BETWEEN GARUDA AND AIRAVATA
CHAPTER CCXXII. INDRA FIGHTS WITH KRISHNA
CHAPTER CCXXIII. SATYA PERFORM THE RITE.
CHAPTER CCXXIV. THE HISTORY OF THE PUNYAKA RITE.
CHAPTER CCXXV. PUNYAKA DESCRIBED BY UMA.
CHAPTER CCXXVI. THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
CHAPTER CCXXVII. THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
CHAPTER CCXXVIII. NARADA GIVES A HISTORY OF VRATAS PERFORMED BY OTHER LADIES.
CHAPTER CCXXIX. AN ACCOUNT OF THE CITY OF ASURAS.
CHAPTER CCXXX. THE ASURAS OBSTRUCTING A YAJNA.
CHAPTER CCXXXI. WAR BETWEEN KRISHNA AND ASURAS.
CHAPTER CCXXXII. DEFEAT OF THE ASURAS: THEY FIGHT AGAIN.
CHAPTER CCXXXIII. THE HISTORY OF THE ASURA ANDHAKA.
CHAPTER CCXXXIV. ANDMAKA GOES TO THE MOUNT MANDARA.
CHAPTER CCXXXV. THE YADAVAS SPORT IN THE OCEAN.
CHAPTER CCXXXVI. THE SPORT OF THE YADUS CONTINUED.
CHAPTER CCXXXVII. NIKUMBHA CARRIES AWAY BHANUMATI.
CHAPTER CCXXXVIII. THE DESTRUCTION OF VAJRANABHA: AN ACCOUNT OF PRABHAVATI.
CHAPTER CCXXXIX. THE CELESTIAL SWANS GO TO THE CITY OF VAJRA
CHAPTER CCXL. THE YADAVAS ARRIVE AT THE CITY OF ASURAS AS ACTORS.
CHAPTER CCXLI. PRADYUMNA APPEARS BEFORE PRABHAVATI AND MARRIES HER.
CHAPTER CCXLII. A DESCRIPTION OF THE RAINY SEASON.
CHAPTER CCXLIII. VAJRANABHA WANTS TO CONQUER THE CELESTIAL REGION.
CHAPTER CCXLIV. THE DESTRUCTION OF VAJRANABHA
CHAPTER CCXLV. THE CELESTIAL ARCHITECT BUILDS DWARAKA
CHAPTER CCXLVI. KRISHNA'S ENTRANCE INTO DWARAKA AND RECEPTION.
CHAPTER CCXLVII. KRISHNA INVITES A MEETING OF HIS KINSMEN.
CHAPTER CCXLVIII. NARADA DESCRIBES THE FEAT OF KRISHNA.
CHAPTER CCXLIX. THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
CHAPTER CCL. KRISHNA'S CHILDREN.
CHAPTER CCLI. AN ACCOUNT OF PRADYUMNA.
CHAPTER CCLII. BATTLE BETWEEN PRADYUMNA AND SHAMVARA'S SONS.
CHAPTER CCLIII. SHAMVARA COMES TO THE BATTLE-FIELD.
CHAPTER CCLIV. SHAMVARA'S DEATH.
CHAPTER CCLV. PRADYUMNA GOES TO DWARAKA AND HIS PARENTS RECOGNIZE HIM.
CHAPTER CCLVI. BALADEVA'S MANTRA FOR PROTECTING PRADYUMNA.
CHAPTER CCLVII. NARADA PUTS QUESTIONS: AND THE MYSTERY IS EXPLAINED.
CHAPTER CCLVIII. ARJUNA DESCRIBES ANOTHER WONDERFUL WORK.
CHAPTER CCLIX. ARJUNA GOES TO RESCUE THE BRAHMANA AND BECOMES UNSUCCESSFUL.
CHAPTER CCLX. KRISHNA RESCUES THE BRAHMANA'S SONS.
CHAPTER CCLXI. KRISHNA EXPLAINS THE MYSTERY.
CHAPTER CCLXII. KRISHNA'S FEATS DESCRIBED.
CHAPTER CCLXIII. VANA—THE GREAT ASURA.
CHAPTER CCLXIV. BHAVA'S SPORT AND VANA'S DAUGHTER OBTAINS A BOON.
CHAPTER CCLXV. USHA MEETS HER LOVER WHILE ASLEEP AND EXHORTS HER FRIENDS TO BRING HIM.
CHAPTER CCLXVI. CHITRALEKHA UNITES ANIRUDDHA WITH USHA: ANIRUDDHA'S FIGHT WITH VANA'S SOLDIERS.
CHAPTER CCLXVII. THE GODDESS CONSOLES ANIRUDDHA.
CHAPTER CCLXVIII. ANXIETY OF THE YADAVAS FOR ANIRUDDHA.
CHAPTER CCLXIV. KRISHNA GOES TO SONITPURA AND FIGHTS WITH RUDRA'S FOLLOWERS ON THE WAY.
CHAPTER CCLXX. KRISHNA'S BATTLE WITH JVARA (FEVER).
CHAPTER CCLXXI. KRISHNA'S BOON TO JVARA.
CHAPTER CCLXXII. THE FIGHT BETWEEN KRISHNA AND SHANKARA.
CHAPTER CCLXXIII. THE EARTH GOES TO BRAHMA: MARKANDEYA EXPLAINS HOW BRAHMA, VISHNU, SIVA ARE ONE.
CHAPTER CCLXXIV. KARTIKEYA GOES TO THE BATTLE-FIELD.
CHAPTER CCLXXV. THE BATTLE BETWEEN VANA AND KRISHNA.
CHAPTER CCLXXVI. KRISHNA FINDS ANIRUDDHA: GIVES THE KINGDOM TO KUMBHANDA AND FIGHTS WITH VARUNA FOR COWS.
CHAPTER CCLXXVII. ANIRUDDHA'S WEDDING AND RECEPTION.
BHAVISHYA PARVA OR THE BOOK OF FUTURE.
CHAPTER I. AN ACCOUNT OF JANAMEJAYA'S FAMILY.
CHAPTER II. VYASA'S PRESENCE AT JANAMEJAYA'S SACRIFICE.
CHAPTER III. AN ACCOUNT OF KALI-YUGA.
CHAPTER IV. KALI-YUGA DESCRIBED.
CHAPTER V. INDRA RAVISHES VAPUSTHAMA: VISHWAVASU PACIFIES JANAMEJAYA'S WRATH.
CHAPTER VI. JANAMEJAYA LIVES HAPPILY: EFFECT OF THE RISHI'S WORDS.
CHAPTER VII. THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.
CHAPTER VIII. THE DURATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF YOGA.
CHAPTER IX. THE WORK OF DISSOLUTION DESCRIBED.
CHAPTER X. THE GOD AFTER DISSOLUTION.
CHAPTER XI. THE CREATION OF A LOTUS AFTER DISSOLUTION.
CHAPTER XII. A DESCRIPTION OF THE EARTH.
CHAPTER XIII. THE WORLD OF CREATION BEGINS: THE BIRTH OF MADHU AND KAITABHA.
CHAPTER XIV. BRAHMA'S CREATION.
CHAPTER XV. JANAMEJAVA's QUERY.
CHAPTER XVI. THE GREAT BRAHMAN DESCRIBED.
CHAPTER XVII. THE CREATION OF RIVERS.
CHAPTER XVIII. THE CREATION OF GANDHARVAS ETC.
CHAPTER XIX. KSHATRA YUGA DESCRIBED.
CHAPTER XX. THE FRUITS OF YOGA.
CHAPTER XXI. THE PROCESS OF PRANAYAMA.
CHAPTER XXII. KURUKSHETRA AND THE DUTY OF THE BRAHMANAS.
CHAPTER XXIII. THE BEGINNING OF FIGHT BETWEEN DEVAS AND DAITYAS.
CHAPTER XXIV. THE FIGHT BETWEEN MADHU AND VISHNU.
CHAPTER XXV. VISHNU KILLS MADHU.
CHAPTER XXVI. AN ACCOUNT OF PIRTHU AND THE CHURNING OF THE OCEAN.
CHAPTER XXVII. THE DESTRUCTION OF BALI.
CHAPTER XXVIII. SIVA OBSTRUCTS DAKSHA'S SACRIFICE AND HARI FIGHTS WITH HIM.
CHAPTER XXIX. THE BOAR INCARNATION OF VISHNU.
CHAPTER XXX. THE WORK OF CREATION AND UPRAISING OF THE EARTH.
CHAPTER XXXI. THE CREATION OF MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS.
CHAPTER XXXII. THE CREATION OF THE VEDAS.
CHAPTER XXXIII. VARIOUS KINGS ARE APPOINTED BY BRAHMA.
CHAPTER XXXIV. THE MOUNTAINS SET ASURAS FIGHTING WITH THE GODS.
CHAPTER XXXV. THE LORD COMES OUT AS A BOAR.
CHAPTER XXXVI. RELEASE OF THE CELESTIALS.
CHAPTER XXXVII. THE MAN-LION INCARNATION OF VISHNU HIRANYAKASHIPU'S PRAYER TO BRAHMA.
CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE ASURAS ARE FILLED WITH SURPRISE AT SEEING THE MAN-LION FORM.
CHAPTER XXXIX VISHNU KILLS HIRANYAKASHIPU.
CHAPTER XL. THE BEGINNING OF THE DWARF INCARNATION: BALI BECOMES KING.
CHAPTER XLI. BALI'S PROSPERITY.
CHAPTER XLII. THE GODS GO TO KASHYAPA FOR FINDING OUT MEANS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF BALI.
CHAPTER XLII. BRAHMA INSTRUCTS THE DEVAS TO GO TO VISHNU.
CHAPTER XLIII. VISHNU PROMISES HELP TO THE GODS.
CHAPTER XLIV. VISHNU'S BIRTH AS A DWARF.
CHAPTER XLV. BALI PROMISES TO GIVE LANDS TO THE DWARF.
CHAPTER XLVI. THE DANAVAS DESCRIBED.
CHAPTER XLVII. THE FRUITS OF THE RECITATION OF THE BHARATA.
CHAPTER XLVIII. THE FRUITS OF THE RECITATION OF HARIVAMSHA.
A PROSE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF HARIVAMSHA
INTRODUCTION.
Harivamsha or the family of Hari (Srikrishna) is properly speaking a sequel of the great Epic Mahabharata. The work opens with a request made by Sounaka to Souti for an account of the two great clans namely, Vrishnis and Andhakas. He says:—"O son of Lomaharshana, while describing the birth and history of the Kurus you forgot to narrate the history of Vrishnis and Andhakas. It becomes you to relate their history." Chapter I, Sloka 9. The work in which an account of the Kurus is given is undoubtedly the Mahabharata though we meet with a little confusion in the text, when it is mentioned as a Purana. This passage clearly shows that the object of the author is evidently to give a detailed account of the family of Krishna which is not to be found in Mahabharata.
It is very difficult to ascertain the true nature of this work—whether it is to be called a Purana or an epic poem. It is not mentioned in the list of Puranas or Upapuranas, though in style, form and character it resembles the Puranas. As in the Puranas and more particularly in Vishnu Purana so in Harivamsha we find an account of creation, the dimension of the earth, the division of the time and the history of the patriarchal and regal dynasties. They so much resemble each other that sometimes it appears, that one is the paraphrase of the other. The account of Krishna's early life and some of his miracles are merely the counterparts of the same in Vishnupuran. Thus it is evident that though this work is not included in the list of Puranas it is in reality one of them written with the same object and in the same style. It is called a sequel of the Mahabharata only because it gives a profuse account of what has been left off in that work. The greatest interest however lies in the fact that it gives an elaborate account of the life of Srikrishna
and as such it is always regarded as an authority.
It is almost impossible to ascertain the date of the composition of this work as it is of other ancient Sanskrit works. We have no regular history of our literatures and there are so many contradictory statements in various works that we cannot safely rely on internal evidence for the solution of the question of date. The popular belief is that Mahabharata Ramayna and Puranas were written long after the Vedas. But we have references to these works even in the Vedic literature.
In the Atharva Veda we have the names of Itihasa, Purana and Gatha. We meet with another passage in Satpata Brāhmana wherein Itihasas and Puranas have been mentioned. The text is:
"The Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda, Itihasis, Purana, Upanishads, Sutras, Slokas, etc."
There are many other similar passages which clearly prove that the class of literature passing under the appelation of Puranas and Itihasas were in existence even in the Vedic period. From these statements it is very difficult to arrive at a conclusion when these works were really written. The various episodes of these works passed orally from one generation to another for many centuries before they were committed to writing. And even after this many interpelations had been added by various writers in the shape of references to contemporaneous events. The ancient Hindu writers were so very modest that they never liked the idea of making their names known as authors. Many works written by those unknown writers passed in the names of their Gurus or spiritual guides. Thus from internal evidence it is not safe to make any attempt for the determination of date or authorship. The only safe course is to give an approximate date based upon the development of thought that is to be seen in various works, making use of the internal evidence as a test for the accuracy of our conclusions.
Taking a survey of the various departments of Hindu literature we find that the theory of incarnation and sectarial worship were absolutely unknown to the Vedic writers and took a very meagre proportion even when the Ramayana and the Mahabharata were written. In the Puranas however we see that the entire theology is based on the doctrine of incarnation-the various sects have their rituals and ceremonies definitely laid down and the caste rules introduced with all their severity and force. Besides we also find the doctrines of Vedanta and Sankya explained popularly in the shape of episodes. This clearly proves that whatever may be the actual date of the composition of these works they are long posterior to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. From the evidence of style, the treatment of subject matter, the account of Creation and Patriarchal families it is clear, that Harivamsha, although it is a sequel to the Mahabharata, was written long after that great work. If it was not written in the same period when the Puranas were composed it was not at least written earlier.
I have said before that Harivamsha consists of the life and miracles of Srikrishna together with an account of his family. I think, I should say a few words whether the central hero of this great work as well as of many other works is a historical person or a myth. Foreigners who have no access to the literature of the Hindus consider him as a creation of imagination, an ideal of lust. Several poetical works and Brahma Vaivarta Purana in the list of Puranas are responsible for this opinion. Any impartial student, of Mahabharata and other authentic writings regarding his life, will admit that he was a real historical personage—a man of wonderful power and superhuman intellect. He was a great politician and a great prophet. Such a combination is rare in the history of men. If the battle of Kurukshetra is a historical incident which many inscriptions prove we fail to see why the central figure should not be a historical character. Srikrisna is a grand figure in the history of the Aryans—his life teems with lofty moral precepts which have been still
shedding lustre upon the greatness of our forefathers; his teachings have been not only swaying over the vast millions of India but have arrested the admiration and veneration of the people of the West. Writers like Messrs Dupuis and Volney have even gone the length of arguing in their respective works that the history of life and miracles of Christ have been borrowed from those of Indian Krishna. If then for many miracles attributed to him he is to be considered a myth, what claim then can any other prophet have for being considered a historical character whose life also has been interwoven with many such miracles?
Harivamsha is an account of the life and family of this Greatest Prophet of the Hindus and therefore it is hoped an English Translation of such a work will be welcome to the public.
With His Highness' kind permission this English
Translation of Harivamsha
Is most humbly and respectfully dedicated to
Col. H. H. Maharajah
Sir Pertab Sing, Inday Mahindar Bahadur G. G. S. T.
Maharajah of Cashmere
As a token of appreciation of His Highness' sympathy for
Such works, his vast scholarship and liberality
By his most obedient and humble
Servant and admirer
The author.
HARIVAMSHA
THE PRELUDE.
The sample stops here
This is as far as the free sample of A Prose English Translation of Harivamsha goes
You have read 3 of 238 chapters. Start your trial to keep reading all 238 chapters, tap any word for an instant translation, hear the audio narration, and save your progress across devices.