A History of Indian Literature v1.c9.s4.59

v1.c9.s4.59

This torso of a heroic poem is one of the few portions of the Mahābhārata which have remained almost entirely untouched by brahmanical influence. Only too often has the old bard-poetry, which was inspired by the warrior-spirit, been quite watered down in form and contents under the influence of the Brahmin scholars. Thus we find—this is one of the many instances—an “old itihāsa” quoted in the twelfth book of the Mahābhārata, which Nārada relates to Sṛñjaya, in order to console him after the death of his son. Many kings of primitive times are named, who all had to die, though they were famous heroes. But of what do the “heroic deeds” of these kings consist? They offered countless sacrifices, and what was still more important, gave enormous presents to the priests. One king, for example, gives the priests as sacrificial gift “a thousand times a thousand” maidens adorned with gold, each of whom sits on a four-horse chariot; each chariot is accompanied by a hundred elephants garlanded with gold; behind each elephant follow a thousand horses, and behind each horse a thousand cows, behind each cow a thousand goats and sheep.[^2) ] It is often difficult to say whether they are remnants of ancient heroic poetry, spoilt through the priests’ attempts at recasting, or independent brahmanical compositions.