Studies in the Epics and Puranas c12.46

c12.46

the Purāṇas thought it unnecessary to refer to it. The Bhāgavata Purāṇa expressly states that the Harivaṃśa was written to fill up the gaps in the life of Kṛṣṇa as found in the Mahābhārata. Hence naturally, the Purāṇas deal with the early life of Kṛṣṇa and with other aspects not touched by the Mahābhārata. An account of the life of Kṛṣṇa from his birth to death based on a critical examination and collation of the details as given in the Mahābhārata and the older Purāṇas so as to present a connected and consistent story will be given later on. It may, however, be stated that the Mahābhārata presents Kṛṣṇa as a Yādava chief, a friend and counsellor of the Pāṇḍavas due to whose tactful guidance alone the latter came out successful in the Bhārata war. Some scholars are inclined to doubt the identity of this Kṛṣṇa, the chief of Dvārakā who often advocated tricky ways, with the propounder of the Bhagavadgītā who preaches dharma as the rule of life.²⁹ But it may be seen that there is really no such contradiction, inconsistency or incompatibility in the preachings and behaviour of the Vṛṣṇi hero as to justify the theory of two Kṛṣṇas. As the priests of Śiva were the last to retouch the Mahābhārata, and as there is as much Śaivism in the Mahābhārata as there is Vaiṣṇavism,³⁰ sectarian rancour may have been responsible for inventing some incidents and darkening the character of Vāsudeva. His actions, however, can be justified on the ground that they were necessitated by peculiar circumstances which may be excused as exceptions to the general rule. The activities of Kṛṣṇa before and during the Bhārata war as recorded in the Mahābhārata, no doubt, represent him as a human politician par excellence, though the Mahābhārata at places attempts to identify him with the god of gods.