Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c11.13

c11.13

The genealogical record in the Matsya has peculiarities. It may be considered in three parts, (1) its account of the Aikṣvākus, Śāryātas and other sons of Manu, (2) its account of the early Ailas down to Yayāti, and (3) its genealogies of the five Aila races, Yādavas, Pauravas, &c. This third part resembles the ‘Vāyu version’, and appears to be based on the same original text, and to be not a revision but a distinct version which early became separate. Its variations are additions, omissions, condensations and sometimes corruptions; and on the whole its agreement with the ‘Vāyu version’ occurs more in the strictly genealogical statements and less in the incidental or collateral matter. The two other parts (1) and (2) differ from the ‘Vāyu version’, the verses being quite different. The pedigrees are in the main the same, though there are wide divergencies or corruptions in names in the second part and marked disagreements at several stages in the first part. In the first part the account is very concise, without any of the tales and allusions that diversify the ‘Vāyu version’. The second part is briefer than the ‘Vāyu version’, the legends are narrated differently, and some interpolations occur. On the whole the Matsya record is a valuable and in many points independent authority.