The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c16.s1.30

c16.s1.30

of Purāṇas. The Kūrma Purāṇa and the Śrīmad Bhāgavata give slightly different lists of contents. The political matter introduced into the various sections of the Purāṇas is true only in a general way for a few centuries and unfortunately, directly adds very little to our knowledge of the working of institutions. Some inferences can be drawn from them but it has to be borne in mind that the Purāṇas draw profusely on the epics, including the Harivaṃśa of the Mahābhārata, on the Smṛitis, Nīti literature and, in some cases, on one another. The Purāṇas give many lists of universal sovereigns, some of whom like Manu, Sagara, Yayāti, Prithu, Dilipa are mythical, while others may be historical, perhaps only suzerains on a small scale.¹