History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.267.2

v7.c91.267.2

Varāha, Narasiṁha, Vāmana, Dattātreya, Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma), Rāma, Kṛṣṇa and Vedavyāsa. But as Keśava is said to be the 9th (I. 41. 6) it is to be understood that Matsya and Kūrma were counted, though not expressly named and Kalki Viṣṇuyaśas is mentioned as a future avatāra. The usual ten avatāras are named in Varāha¹⁶²⁴ (4. 2, 48. 17-22, 55. 36-37), Matsya 285. 6-7, Agni (chap. 2-16 stories about all ten), Narasiṁhapurāṇa (chap. 36), Padma VI. 43. 13-15). In Vāyu 98. 68-104 the text presents the avatāras in a confused manner and appears to mention ten avatāras, viz. Varāha, Narasiṁha, Vāmana, Dattātreya, Māndhātṛ, Jāmadagnya, Rāma (Dāśarathi), Veda-vyāsa, Vāsudeva, Kalkin Viṣṇuyaśas. In Brahmāṇḍa III. 73. 75 ff there are lists of avatāras different from the present ten. In the Bhāgavata the avatāras of Viṣṇu are mentioned in several places In I. 3. 1-25 twenty-two avatāras including Brahmā, Devarṣi Nārada (who promulgated the Sātvata system), Nara-Nārāyaṇa, Kapila (who taught to Asuri the Sāṅkhya system), Dattātreya, Ṛṣabha, (son of Nābhi and Merudevī),¹⁶²⁵ Dhanvantari, Mohinī, Vedavyāsa, Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, Buddha, Kalki are mentioned. In II. 7 twenty-three avatāras are mentioned, many of which are the same as in I. 3, but in II. 7 Dhruva, Pṛthu son of Vena, Hayagrīva are mentioned, the first two of which are mentioned as avatāras hardly anywhere else. In Bhāgavata XI. 40. 17-22 the following avatāras are mentioned, viz.