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Definition of the Purana
Jaga-Itthāsali, kept itself free from the accrctions of cpisodical and other extra-historical matters at least for some times, as is evidenced by the epic statement about the extent and character of the original Bhärata-Samhita16 But with the march of time fresh matters of universal nature began to be incorpo. rated in the body of the Bhārata, and thus the Itıhäsa, which was considered for long to be concerned with actual historical events, came to be regarded simply as a narrative of the past events17-both historical and legendary It is because of this new development that the Mahābhārala calls itself not only an Ilihasa but also a Purāna and an Akhyana 18
Thus, the Mahābhārata, which was an Itihasa in its primal form kcpt its door open for long to receive all branches of Indian wisdom-its mythology, cosmologyl , ethics, Philosophy,
18 "जयो नामेतिहासोऽय श्रोतव्यो विजिगीषुणा"
--MBh 1v 130 18a (Gita Press), "भारतस्येतिहासस्य"
-11 17a, 11 24b, "इतिहाममिम चक्र पुण्यं सत्यवतीसुतः"
-1162 16 "चतुर्विंशतिसाहस्री चक्ने भारतसंहिताम् ।
उपाख्याविना तावद् भारत प्रोच्यते बुध ॥"
-MBh I 161
17. इतिहास पुरावृत्त ऋषिभिः परिकीय॑ते ।"
-BD IV 46 18 "द्वैपायनेन यत्प्रोक्तं पुराण परमपिणा।
सुरैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिश्चैव श्रुत्वा यदभिपूजितम् ।। तस्याख्यानवरिष्ठस्य वित्रिपदपर्वण । सूक्ष्मार्थन्याययुक्तस्य वेदार्थभूषितस्य च ।। भारतस्येतिहासस्य पुण्या ग्रन्थार्थसंयुताम् । सस्कारोपगतां ब्राह्मी नानाशास्त्रोपवृहिताम् ॥" -MBH I 1 15-17 This quotation is important inasmuch as all the
names occur at a place 19. Ibad , I 1 27-45.
