The History of Indian Literature c8.355

c8.355

tion to Bhállaveya; while his own opinion, differing from that of the latter, is in turn rejected by Yájnavalkya. On account of the interest of the subject I introduce here another passage from the fourteenth book, from which we may gather the same result. We there find a rival of Yájnavalkya testing him with a question, the solution of which the former had previously obtained from a Gandharva, who held in his possession the daughter of Kápya Patañchala of the country of the Madras;—the question, namely, "Whither have the Párikshitas gone?" the solution of which therefore appears to have been looked upon as extremely difficult. Yájnavalkya answers: "Thither where (all) *aśvamedha* sacrificers go." Consequently the Párikshitas must at that time have been altogether extinct. Yet their life and end must have been still fresh in the memory of the people, and a subject of general curiosity.[^asterisk] It almost seems as though their "guilt, their *brahmahatyá*," had been too great for people to believe that it could have been atoned for by sacrifices were they ever so holy; or that by such means the Párikshitas could have become partakers of the reward fixed for other less culpable evil-doers. It appears further as if the Brahmans had taken special pains to rehabilitate their memory, and in this undoubtedly they were completely successful. Or was it, on the contrary, that the majesty and power of the Párikshitas was so great and dazzling, and their end so surprising, that it was difficult to believe they had really passed away? I *prefer*, however, the former explanation.