Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c9.s3.45
Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c9.s3.45
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c9.s3.45
Particulars regarding the son and successor of the Vedic Parikshit agree well with what we know of the son and successor of the Epic and the Purāṇic Parikshit II. Janamejaya, the son of the Vedic Parikhsit, is mentioned in the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa* as a performer of the *Aśvamedha* or horse-sacrifice. The priest who performed the famous rite for him was Indrota Daivāpa Śaunaka. On the other hand, the *Aitareya Brāhamaṇa*, which also mentions his *Aśvamedha*, names Tura Kāvasheya as his priest. The statements of the *Śatapatha*, and *Aitareya Brāhmaṇas* are apparently conflicting, and can be reconciled if we surmise that either we are dealing with two different kings of the same name and parentage or the same Janamejaya performed two horse-sacrifices. Which Janamejaya actually did so? Curiously enough the Purāṇas give the information which is needed. The Matsya *Purāṇa* speaking of Janamejaya, the grandson of Abhimanyu, and the son of Parikshit II, says: