Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c11.43

c11.43

The method here advocated cannot be merely one of pure verbal criticism; some scope must be allowed to discrimination and judgement based on a general study of the Puranic texts. Whether one’s individual decisions on the reconstruction of the passages be sound or not must be tested by study devoted to the Puranas; but the principle is sound and provides the only sane way in which these genealogies can be examined. This is the method used here. The texts of the Puranas have been collated throughout, wherever doubtful points arose; and wherever it is essential to elucidate the discussion, the text that appears to be most probably the nearest approach to the original common text is quoted. It will be often found that, though there may be scope for difference in the selection of particular words in framing the text, yet that does not affect the general sense of the passages, the purport being clear, though the words selected may vary. As an illustration of the advantage of collating the texts may be given the following passage, which shows how important may be what appear to be stray readings.