History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.270

v7.c91.270

¹⁶²⁴ The passage of Matsya (285. 6-7) is very likely a later interpolation, because in another place in the Matsya, the names of avatāras are different. In Matsya 47. 106 there is a reference to the curse on Viṣṇu by Bhṛgu that since Viṣṇu killed his wife he would have to be born seven times as a human being and the seven avatāras are Dattātreya, Māndhātā, Jāmadagnya (Bhārgava) Rāma, Rāma Dāśarathi, Vedavyāsa, Buddha, Kalkin and three more (in 47. 237-240), viz. Nārāyaṇa, Narasiṁha and Vāmana are added; in Matsya 54. 15-19, Nakṣatrapuruṣa-vrata is described and the usual ten avatāras are named.