Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c11.22

c11.22

Three other Puranas contain all or nearly all the genealogies, the Garuḍa, Agni ⁶ and Bhāgavata.⁷ Their accounts are all late re-compilations, the Bhāgavata being one of the very latest, about the ninth century A.D. They do not reproduce any of the old verses except rarely, but have re-stated the genealogies in fresh verses, generally in more condensed form. The Garuḍa and Agni give merely bald pedigrees with hardly any incidental allusions. The Garuḍa and Bhāgavata follow the Vāyu tradition as regards the Aikṣvākus, and the Agni the Matsya tradition. As regards the other dynasties, all three follow in a general way the common tradition. The Bhāgavata has used the Viṣṇu in its composition, and so also has the Garuḍa apparently. All three however have peculiarities of their own. The Agni has erred seriously as regards the Kānyakubja and Kāśi dynasties. The Bhāgavata is fuller and contains stories and allusions, which show a marked brahmanical colouring and some corruptions; and it has taken considerable liberties with names. These three Puranas have no authority as regards the genealogies, yet are of use for comparison, and sometimes elucidate the older accounts. The Bhāgavata has a special value, where it restates traditions, found in the older Puranas, that do not harmonize with brahmanical assertions and pretensions and could not have originated with the brahmans; for the fact that it, a thoroughly brahmanical composition, affirms such traditions, is very strong testimony that the traditions were genuine and could not be discarded. It will be often cited therefore in this way.