‘GRUNDRISS DER INDO-ARISCHEN PHILOLOGIE UND ALTERTUMSKUNDE. (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INDOLARYAN RESEARCH) [BRGRONDET VON G. BUHLER, BORTGHSRT2T VON ¥. KIRLHORN, -HERAUSGHGHBEN VON H, LODERS UND J. WACKERNAGHL, 2a mam, meer wl +) EPIC: MYTHOLOGY E, WASHBURN HOPKINS STRASSBURG VERLAG VON KARL J. TROBNER : 1915 X 4 ee(GRUNDRISS DER INDO-ARISCHEN PHILOLOGIE UNO ALTERTUMSKUNDE. (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INOOARYAN RESEARCH) EGRONDET VON G. BOILER, FORTGRSETZT VON F KLELHORS, ‘HERAUSGHGRBEN YON 1. LODIRS UND J. WACKERNAGEL, EPIC MYTHOLOGY E. WASHBURN HOPKINS, 1. INTRODUCTION. § 1. Date of Epic Poetry. — The mythology of the two epics of Iadia represents in general the belicf of the people of Northern India tlong the lover Ganges within a fow centuries of the Christian era, For the Mahabharata the time from 300 B.C. to 100 B.C. appears now to be the most probable date, though excellent authorities extend the limits fom 40 B.C. to 400 A.D. The Mahabharata asa whole is later than the Ramayana; but R is metrically more advanced, the work of one author, ‘skilled mettician, who has improved the rougher epic form of the Mah@bhirata, as his work sepresents a life less rude than that depicted in the great popular epic, this being the work of many hands and of diferent tines. Both epics have received long additions. The germ of the Mabd- bhirata has been referred to the Vedie period and the Ramayana has been tusigned to pro-Buddbistic times (its germ also recognised as Vedic), but the data, in part nogative, oppose the assumption that either epic poem ‘existed Before the fourth century B,C. Discusion {s futile without a careful Aefntion of the word "germ". That the Raméyaga was the norm, according to which the Mahabharata was built, or that the Rimiyapa was completed as itis to-day (barring the first and last books) before the Mahabharata was bogua, are theses impossible to establish. The Ramayana has two flagrant suddions, books one and seven, The Mahabhirata has been increased by the late addition of the Harivaméa (perhaps 200 A.D), and much of the frst book is late. By the fourth century this epic’ was recognised as oem of one hundred thousand verses, and it has been argued!) that this {nplies the existence of the Harivamda at that time, Such may be the case, 2.20, The eases imal: work, fguo the cre toot eof Macionel’s wrk Integr to the kernel of eet ele rere ONC, ity be uanoned heer the war Geet ead Pasa the ec em fe Se a a PrenerWie Gensche der niche Uteretel 7 39, afgaog fea ie fac Oat the Ta down aot kno Soap hdd toqtinee the ary of Remy, tment Temi spo Bete spec tare prcet aolvass "Te Rensyaey by Bis, wer sme by Vs folly in che fourth or Med ceatary B.C." (path telre the Mabmbbrstn, bd Fresca Prfese Jct ur faci “rote Det ‘wong he TEL deco the nonce of Ves (p78, alae ccd pra ege tothe Pasayege “The germ ofthe MDh spec, Bove, be ler han ein Sremnee nucr age wel ora rere Ina Pie 7h, 1Til Reticion, wats, Wissenscn, since the (corrected) Northern version contains 84,126 verse, which, with the. 16,375(526) verses of the Hrivamés, make 100,501(6s1) verses. But on the other hand, it might be said, (fom the off-hand way the Hindus have of assigning & round number of verses to a poems, that they would be quite likely to refer to an epi even approximating one hundred thousand verses a3 a poem of a lnkh of verses. Now the Southern recension, in 80 fer as the recently published text represents it, has twelve thoussnd mor verses then the Northern recension and, without the Harivaqda, contains 96,578 verte (oF proge equivalent), not Including the cea two hundred extra verses of single manuscripts, It is therefore doubtfal whether the atribotion of a lakh of verses necessarily implies the existence, a8 part of the lakh, of the Harivamss, Yet on the whole this is probeble, owing to the fact that the expansion in S appears for the most part to be due rather to the inclusion of new material than to the retention of old. pas ages. Important is the fect forthe mythologist thatthe Harivasa is more closely in touch with Purdpic than with epic mythology. It i in fact a Purana, and “epic mythology” may properly exclude it, ait may exclude the Uttara in the Ramayana, though both are valuable here and there to complement epic material. In no case, howeves, may passages from either of these additions be assumed to represent cpic ideas, although of course eple idess may be contained in them. It is most probeble that Sti and Anusisana were books (XII and Xifl) added to. the original epic, but ‘equally clear that they were included in the Mahibhicata containing a lakh of verses, They may be looked upon in general a8 later though not modern addtions®), yet as we know that one portion of Sinti has been enlarged in quite modera times) there should be no hesitation in granting that passages may have been added at any time within the last few cen turies. The palpable editions made in the interest of sectarian belit in the Southern recension are mecely an indication of what has probably happened In both epics. — Geographically, the Mababhirata represents the western and the Rimayana the eastern districts of Northern India, bat nly in @ limited sense (circa Delhi to Benares). In general may be aid that middle India between the Ganges and Nerbudda was the country rmost femilar to the poets of beth epics, North and South are fabulous bat travelled lands, The Punjab is better known but lies remote. 2. The Concept Deva. — Epic mythology, however, is fairly consis. tent, There is no great discrepancy between the character of any one god jn Mbb. and that of the same god in R. Nor is the character of gods very different in different perts of Mbh, save for the sectarian tendency to invert the positions of the three highest gods in favor of the sect. There are of course diferences, but not such as to imply that we are dealing ‘with totally diverse conceptions or traditions. In both epics the older gods ') tn eeckoning the verte ofthe Norther recension, acount mut be taken of the steptoat nema eee tbe Cat eon wh I Vases deen howd fate seventeen thasund odd rvs, [a Udgope conver se thousand on bndred nt even thotsnd, et, The Bonbay Vea bas 1 Southern () recension, The total am 841% fe am Indien ofthe difereace betwee aad BG, Adl bas 180 vest fa, B49 aC. *) Sint jogo and Anassene 1184 vase a Contrted with 13.) thd 1.796 tn the Norther recension. Holumasn, Das Mabibhavata, ly ph argued for a ‘Bode og rvughon bu th iw tar aot Ben ebuatd ') ts Stat ary, to 355, $ hw many more searian addons tn honor of the [Neeayant landed fo oe ntrplated shapers,