Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c16.8

c16.8

Differences occur also in names, but they are often superficial, and a few are noticed here out of the many that may be cited. Names are curtailed. Sometimes the final component is omitted, thus Kāñcanaprabha of the Kānyakubja dynasty becomes merely Kāñcana in the Viṣṇu and Garuḍa; Rohitāśva of the Ayodhyā line is generally called Rohita; and Bhīma Pāṇḍava’s full name was Bhīmasena.² In other cases the first component is omitted, thus Devātithi of the Pauravas becomes Atithi in the Garuḍa; and the Bhāgavata calls Prasenajit of Ayodhyā Senajit.³ Similarly the prefix su not seldom disappears in the later Puranas, and so Suśruta of Videha becomes Śruta in the Bhāgavata, which abounds in such modifications and also attempted emendations. Again names may be altered by misreadings, as Vasumata alias Sumati of Ayodhyā by an easy misreading of v as c or vice versa.⁴ Further, names are changed by metathesis, thus Durdama of the Haihayas appears as Durmada in the Vāyu and Brahmāṇḍa, and the rishi Indrapramati appears as Indrapratima.⁵