The History of India from the Earliest Ages: The Vedic period and the Mahá Bhárata

Front Cover
N. Trübner, 1867

From inside the book

Contents

CHAPTER I
42
Selfsacrifice of Mádrí on the funeral pile of her husband
45
Gandharva marriage a union without marriage ceremonies
48
Miserable fate of Ambá
55
Familiar to the age when the Bráhmans persecuted
56
The myth proved to be an interpolation by the supernatural
60
Original idea of Satí amongst the Scythians
70
Duties of the Purohita as a priest of the family an instructor
80
Galleries adorned with flags and garlands
86
NALA AND DAMAYANTÍ
91
Historical significance of the change
92
Review of the foregoing myth Its incredibility
95
Subordinate details to be also ascribed to a later
98
Pandavas to be regarded as the representatives of the Aryan
104
Life of the Pandavas as mendicant Bráhmans in the city
110
Polyandry an institution still existing in Thibet
116
The Pandavas resolve to attend
118
davas and discovers that they are Kshatriyas
124
tion
132
Progress of the Aryan invasion from the Punjab to Alláhabád
134
CHAPTER V
138
The Pandavas receive the ambassador in Council
139
Memory of the incident preserved in a later myth
140
Visit to Parasu Ráma
146
PAGE The modern Munnipurees a genuine relic of the Scythic Nágas
149
General prosperity insured by the virtues of the Raja
155
Absence of allusions to animal sacrifice in the description
160
Yudhishthira appointed Yuvaraja or heirapparent
161
Rajas of the Middle and South Countries
166
Probable character of the sacrificial rites
167
Yudhishthira sends public messages by Sanjaya to the elders
176
Stakes his brothers as slaves and loses them
179
Unpardonable nature of the affront which had been put upon
186
tance from their Raj
193
The animals of the jungle implore Yudhishthira to leave
199
Draupadí enters the presence of the Rání
207
Womens apartments
210
Draupadí escapes from the house and runs to the Councilhall
213
Yudhishthira praises the valour of the music and dancing
223
The Council Hall
227
103
232
Bhíma serving as cook
235
CHAPTER X
241
I agree with Drupada but wish
245
Krishnas visit to Duryodhana
260
and plot to seize Krishna
269
Appointment of signs and watchwords
277
Duryodhana wrathfully remonstrates with the Maharaja
279
4th Rules agreed to on both sides for ameliorating the horrors
283
Brahmanical origin of the rules
284
Final combat between Duryodhana and Bhíma prefaced by
293
Thirteenth day of the war and third of Dronas command
310
Bhíma fights Drona until sunrise
316
Krishna suggests a prevarication
322
Returns to the quarters of the Pandavas in the camp of
344
Aswattháma escapes with the heads of the five sons of
350
Comparison between the massacre by Aswattháma and
356
Want of family sympathy on the part of the Brahmanical
360
Review of the foregoing narrative
372
The Aswamedha a more important rite than the Rajasúya
378
year
383
Three incidents during the period
439
Historical value of the legends referring to the early rivalry
440
Review of the foregoing narrative
441
Encouraged by Krishna
447
Death of Vasudeva
450
PART III
457
Migration of the Yádavas from Mathurá to Dwáraká
459
Churning day in the house of Nanda and Yasodá
465
Flight of the Hot Season
466
Portentous dreams of Kansa
472
Main incidents
479
Wrath of Kali at finding that Nala was chosen
485
the name of Váhuka
491
cooked
498
and aborigines
509
Sarmishthá obeys
515
Review of the foregoing legends of Devayání
519
Resolves on the death of Chandrahasa
525
Sports of the daughter of the Minister and daughter of
528
Tragic end of the Minister
534
Characteristics of Súrya or the
535
Famous myths referring to Arjuna
536
Greek conception of the Sun god
537
Absence of the Pándavas in the camp of the Kauravas
538
Doubtful extent of the
539
Slays the Raja and his elephant at a single blow 303
540
Sixteenth day of the war and first of Karnas command
541
Ancient and modern condition of the Bhíls
542
1st Jealousies between the Kauravas and Pandavas
543
Three distinct classes of worshippers indicated in the RigVeda
544
43
545
Tradition obscured by mythical additions
546
2nd Embassy of the family priest of Drupada to Hastinapur 249
547
483
548
180
549
fight the Raja of Panchála
550
97
551
Advice of Krishna to Duryodhana
552
Significant terror of the widows
553
Resemblance between the Hindú and Greek traditions of
554
Character of the Vedic hymns addressed to Agni
555
Kali plots with Dwápara for the destruction of Nala
556
Draupadis reply
557
Legend of the mission
558
Krishnas presents to the women
559
Sends his charioteer to Hastinapur
560
Exaggerations and embellishments of the Kshatriya bards
561
the Buddhist period
562
Invocations to Agni as a destroyer
563
Extraordinary plot of the Kauravas to burn the Pandavas
564
Tradition of the migration of the Pándavas to the country
565
Krishna proceeds in advance to Hastinapur
566
Vyása the chief of the sacrifice
567
45
568
68
569
The great serpent
570
Prominence of the Sun in all ancient religions
571
Characteristics of Varuna or Water
572
Born of a fishgirl named Matsya in Eastern Bengal
573
Yudhishthira requires that Sakuni should play fair
575
VOL I
579

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Page 156 - Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
Page 156 - To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me ? saith the LORD : I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts ; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.
Page 22 - Let me not yet, O Varuna, enter into the house of clay : have mercy, almighty, have mercy. " If I go along trembling like a cloud driven by the wind : have mercy, Almighty, have mercy...
Page 26 - He who gives life, he who gives strength ; whose command all the Bright Gods revere ; whose shadow is immortality, whose shadow is death. Who is the God to whom we shall offer our sacrifice?
Page 156 - Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom ; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah : to what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me...
Page 577 - Asiatic Society. — JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, from the Commencement to 1863. First Series, complete in 20 Vols. 8vo., with many Plates. Price £10; or, in Single Numbers, as follows :— Nos. 1 to 14, 6s.
Page 27 - He through whom the sky is bright and the earth firm ; He through whom the Heaven was 'stablished — nay, the highest heaven — He who measured out the light in the air. Who is the God to whom we shall offer our sacrifice...
Page 27 - He who by His might looked even over the water-clouds, the clouds which gave strength and Lit the sacrifice, He who is God above all gods; — Who is the god to whom we shall offer our sacrifice? May He not destroy us — He the creator of the earth; or He, the righteous, who created the heaven; He who also created the bright and mighty waters; — Who is the god to whom we shall offer our sacrifice?

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