Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c9.s2.33

c9.s2.33

⁹ *Cf.* Alberuni, Ch. XII ; *Prachaṇḍa-Pāṇḍava* *ed.* by Carl Cappeller, p. 5 ‘*ashṭādaśa-purāṇa-sāra-saṁgraha-kārin*) ; *Mbh.* XVIII. 6. 97; *Harshacharita*, III (p. 86 of Parab's ed., 1918), Pavamāna-prokta Purāṇa, *i. e.*, Vāyu Purāṇa ; *Cf. Sakala-purāṇa-rājarshi charitābhijñaḥ* (III. 87) and *Hareriva Vṛishavirodhinī Bālacharitāni* (II. 77) ; *EHVS*, second ed., pp. 17, 70, 150. The fact that the collection of the essence (*sāra-saṁgraha*) of all the eighteen Purāṇas is attributed to a very ancient sage by Rājaśekhara proves that the Purāṇas themselves were believed by him to have been composed long before the ninth century A. D. The existence of some of the texts in the sixth century A. D. is hinted at by the Nerūr inscription of Maṅgaleśa (IA, VII. 161—*Mānava-Purāṇa-Rāmāyaṇa-Bhārat-etihāsa-kuśalaḥ...Vallabhaḥ*, i. e., Pulikeśi I). The reference in the *Matsya Purāṇa*, which is regarded as one of the earliest among the Purāṇic works, to week days (70 46; 56; 72, 27, etc.) is of value in determining the upper limit.