Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c23.88

c23.88

First, Parāśara (line 2) is called Sāgara or Svāgaja, and these two words are an instance of the importance of readings that appear unmeaning (p. 83). The Liṅga’s reading jyāyaso throws no light on them, for it is obviously an ‘emendation’ to suit the alteration it has made in the preceding line, declaring that Śakti was the eldest of the hundred sons according to its confusion of the stories noticed above. Svāgaja suggests svāgraja, but the possible readings svāgrajam, svāgrajo and svāgrajāt are untenable, if we consider the force of sva, the fact that Śakti had only one son Parāśara who was born after his death, and the consequent meaning of the sentence. Sāgaram or Svāgajam must therefore be an accusative agreeing with Parāśaram. Śakti’s son was Parāśara Śāktya, hence the passage suggests that there was a Parāśara called Sāgara or Svāgaja, and that it has blended the two.