History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c90.273

v7.c90.273

*Śkanda*—This is the most extensive of Purānas and poses perplexing problems. It is found in two forms, one being divided into seven khaṇḍas, viz. Maheśvara, Vaisṇava, Brāhma, Kāśī, Āvantya, Nāgara and Prabhāsa, the other being divided into six saṃhitās, viz. Sanatkumāra, Sūta, Sāṅkarī, Vaisṇavī, Brāhmī and Saura. The Skanda in seven khaṇḍas has been published by the Venk. Press and the Sūtāsaṃhitā with the commentary of Mādhavācārya has been published by the Anan. Press, Poona. The extent of the `Skanda is variously given as 81000 ślokas, at 100000 ślokas (vide PRHR p. 158), at 86000 (in PRHR p. 159). The god Skanda does not figure prominently in this Purāna named after him. The Skanda is named in the Padma V. 59. 2 Skanda I. 2. 6. 79 is almost in the same words as Kirātārjunīya¹⁴⁴⁵ (II. 30 'sahasā vidadhīta na kriyām'). Skanda, Kāśīkhaṇḍa 24 (8 ff) is full of Śleṣa and Parisaṅkhyā in the style of Bāṇa as in 'yatra kṣapanakā eva dṛśyante maladhāriṇaḥ' (verse 21) or 'vibhramo yatra nārīṣu na vidvatsu ca karhicit' (verse 9). Nāṭyaveda and Arthaśāstras are mentioned in Kāśīkhaṇḍa (Pūrvārdha 7. 4-5), Dhanvantari and Caraka on medicine are mentioned in Kāśīkhaṇḍa (Pūrvārdha 1.71); the word Jhoṭinga occurs in Kāśīkhaṇḍa 72. 74 (Jhoṭiṅgā rākṣasāḥ krūrāḥ). Skanda is quoted on topics of Dharmaśāstra in early commentaries and digests. The Mit. on Yāj. II. 290 mentions it in connection with the status of veśyās (courtezans). Kalpataru on vrata quotes only 15 verses from it, Kalpataru on tīrtha (pp. 36-39, 32, 46, 130-135) quotes 92 verses from it, on dāna only 44, on niyatakāla 63 verses, 18 verses on Rājadharma (on Kaumudīmahotsava), only 4 in śrāddhakāṇḍa and 3 in gṛhasthakāṇḍa. Aparārka¹⁴⁴⁶ quotes only 19 verses from it; one quotation indicates Tāntrik influence (vide note). The Dānasāgara cites 48 verses on dāna from it and the Sm. C. only 23 in all. Considering the colossal figure of ślokas in the Skanda it must be said that it is rather sparingly quoted in the Dharmaśāstra works. A verse in it seems to echo the very words of Kālidāsa and quotes the view of Devala.1446a In such a huge work interpolations could easily be made. So it is difficult to assign a definite date to it. A ms. of the Skanda in the Nepal Durbar Library is written in characters which belong to the 7th century A. D. according to Haraprasad Shastri (vide Cat. of Nepal Palm-leaf mss. p. LII.)