The Sanskrit Epics

608 Pages·1998·12.921 MB·English

by  J. L. Brockington

HANDBUCH DER ORIENTALISTIK
HANDBOOK OF ORIENTAL STUDIES
ZWEITE ABTEILUNG
INDIEN
INDIA
HERAUSGEGEBEN VON
J. BRONKHORST
ZWÖLFTER BAND
THE SANSKRIT EPICS
T HE S A N S K R IT E P I CS
BY
JOHN BROCKINGTON
BRILL
LEIDEN • BOSTON • KÖLN
1998
his book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Broclrington,J.L.
The Sanskrit epics / by John Brockington
p. cm. — (Handbuch der Orientalistik. Zweite Abteilung,
Indien ; ISSN 0169-9377 ; 12. Bd. = Handbook of oriental studies.
India)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 9004102604 (doth : alk. paper)
1. Epic poetry, Sanskrit—History and critism, 2. Mahübhärata.
3. VämTki. Rämäyana I. Title. II. Series: Handbuch der
Orientalistik ZweiteAbteüung. Indien ; 12. Bd.
PK2917.B76 1998
89r2103209—dc21 97-38790
CIP
Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einh.eitsaufiiab.me
Handbuch der Orientalistik / hrsg, von B. Spuler unter Mitarb, von
C- van Dijk ...Leiden ; Boaton ; Köln : BriD
Teilw. hrsg. von H. Altenmüller. - literaturangaben
Teihv. mit Parallelt. : Handbook of oriental studies
Abt 2. Indien / hrsg. von J. Bronkhorst
Bd. 12. Brodriogcon, John: The Sankrit epics - 1998
Brockington, John:
The Sanskrit epics / by John Brockington — Leiden ', Boston ;
Köln : Brill, 1998.
(Handbuch der Orientalistik : Abt. 2, Indien ; Bd. 12)
ISBN 9O-04H 026CM
ISSN 0169-9377
ISBN 90 04 10260 4
© Copyright 1998 by Kmkkiijke Brill NV, Läden, The Netherlands
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CONTENTS
Preface ix
General Abbreviations jri
1. Introduction 1
Background 1
The relationship of the epics to Vedic literature 4
The nature of the epics and of the bards 18
The plot of the Mahäbhämta 28
The plot of the Rämäyana 34
2. The History of Epic Studies 41
The history of epic studies (early period) 41
The Critical Editions 56
Broader studies of the epics (since the Critical
Editions) 67
3. The Mahäbhärata (1) 82
Language and style 82
Metrics 117
Growth and development 130
4. The Mahäbhärata (2) 159
Archaeology and the epic 159
Political and military aspects 162
Economic aspects 187
Wildlife and agriculture 191
Geographical horizons 198
Cultural and social aspects 204
5. The Mahäbhärata (3) 232
Deities figuring in the narrative portions 232
Ritual and other religious activity 237
Religious and philosophical concepts 242
The relationship of Visnu and Siva 249
Krsna 256
The Bhagavadgitä 267
The other amilärm 277
Näräyana and the Päficarätra 290
Epic Sämkhya and Yoga 302
6. The Hamamsa 313
Early scholarship and the Critical Edition 317
Language and style 321
Growth and development 326
Cultural aspects 332
Religious aspects 335
7. The Rämäyana (1) 345
Language and style 345
^Metrics : 373
Growth and development 377
8. The Rämäyana (2) 398
Archaeology and the epic 398
Political and military aspects 400
Economic aspects and material culture 408
Wildlife and agriculture 417
Geographical horizons 420
Cultural and social aspects 425
9. The Rämnyana (3) 441
The earliest pantheon 441
Ritual and other religious activity 447
Religious and philosophical concepts 450
The developed religious pattern 454
Visnu and his other avatäras 460
The position of Räma 464
10. Evolution 473
The interrelationship of the two epics 473
Influence on classical Sanskrit literature 484
Adaptations in Sanskrit 491
The place of the epics in Indian culture 496
The epics as part of world culture 513
The future of epic studies ^r.7."T.7.7..~T~ 518
Bibliography 527
Indices 559
Index of Passages Cited 559
General Index 571

PREFACE
The centrality of the two great Sanskrit epics, the Mahäbhärata and
the Rämäyana, to the whole of Indian culture has long been recognised,
although its extent has perhaps not always been appreciated. The
subject matter of this volume is correspondingly extensive and the
task of making a suitable selection from all that has been said about
them has not been an easy one. My aim has been to present an
overview of both epics, within which the history of previous scholar-
ship and the current state of research are given particular promi-
nence, and thereby to build up a coherent view of the nature and
significance of the epics, both in themselves and in relation to the
rest of Indian culture. For each epic the linguistic and related evi-
dence is presented first, next the material culture and the social,
economic and political aspects are surveyed, and then the religious
aspects are examined. Although the primary concentration is on the
epics themselves, including the Harwanisa, the final chapter seeks to
present the wider picture and in conclusion even to look into the
future of epic studies.
I am grateful to Johannes Bronkhorst for first suggesting, in the
middle of 1993, that I should undertake this volume for the Handbuch
der Orientalistik. I also acknowledge with gratitude the receipt from
the Humanities Research Board of the British Academy of an award
to fund a term of research leave and the release of funds from within
the University of Edinburgh which permitted me to take a further
two terms of leave, without which the completion of this volume
within a reasonable timescale would have been impossible.
I am greatly indebted to many individuals who have helped me
in one way or another in its writing. Those who have assisted by
the provision of information or of oflprints—often before this partic-
ular venture was even thought of—are too numerous to name here
(although most are acknowledged at appropriate points in the text).
However, I should like to record my particular gratitude to Horst
Brinkhaus, Freda Matchett and Peter Schreiner for reading various
parts of the book and making helpful suggestions for its improve-
ment; Mary Brockington has read and commented on the entire
typescript and has assisted in its production in many ways and in
particular by the compilation of the bibliography and the indices, for
all of which I am indebted to her more than I can say.
John Brodrington
July 1997
GENERAL ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviations for journals will be foundp receding the Bibliography
Ait. Br. Aitareya Brähmana
App. Appendix (in text references App. denotes Appendix I of
the Critical Editions)
BhG. Bhagavadgitä
GE Critical Edition
Gh. Up. CMndogpa Upanisad
Hv. Harwamsa
KA KautiUya Arthasästra
[l.v.] verse in longer {non-slokd) metre
Manu Mänavadharmasästra/Manusmrti
Mbh. Mahäbhirala
PPL Parana Pancalaksana (Kirfel 1927)
RV Rgveda
Räm. Rämäyana
Sat. Br. Satapatha Brähmana