Political History Of Ancient India

SR No.: 032292
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemchandra Raychaudhari
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1950
Total Pages: 714
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 80

JANAMEJAYA AND JANAKA
51
the ascending line from the same teacher. The lists are given below. :Janamejaya Tura Kāvasheya
Yajñavachas Rājastambāyana Kusri
Kuśri Vājasravasa? Sāndilya
Upavesi Vātsya
Aruņa Vāmakashāyaṇa Uddalaka Aruni | Janaka Māhitthi
Yājñavalkya the Great Kautsa
Āsuri Māņdavya Āsurāyaṇa Māņdūkāyani Prāsnīputra Āsurivāsin
Sanjiviputra Sāñjīviputra It is clear from what has been stated above that Janaka was separated by five or six generations from Janamejaya's time. Jacobi and Rhys Davids3 agree in
1 IC, III. 747.
2 It has been stated by certain recent writers that Janamejaya should be placed "only a step above Janaka." They point to the use of lan in the verb bhū in the interrogation Kva Parikshitā abhavan quoted above. They further identify Dantābala Dhaumra, a contemporary of Janamejaya according to a legend narrated in the Gopatha Brāhmana, with Dantāla Dhaumya of the Jaiminiya Brāhmana, who may be assigned to the period of Janaka. It is also suggested that Bhāllaveya of a certain Brāhmaņa passage is no other than Indradyumna, JIH., April 1936, 15 ff, etc. Apart from the fact that in the Vedic texts lan and lit are at times used alternatively to convey the same meaning (Cf. 37 ante.) it should be noted that the question 'Kva Parikshitā abhavan' with its answer was not framed for the first time at the court of Janaka. It is a murdhābhishikta (traditional)-udaharana attributed to superhuman agency-and, therefore, it cannot be regarded as establishing the synchronism of Janamejaya Parikshita and Janaka Vaideha. As to Dantābala it has already been pointed out, (p. 39 above), that the Baudhāyana śrauta sūtra mentions Dhumras and Dhaumyas as distinct members of the Kaśyapa group. Janamejaya must have passed away in the days of Driti and the Abhipratārinas.. See ante p. 46. See also IHQ, Vol. VIII, 1932. 600 ff. As to Bhallaveya, serious students should remember that it is a patronymic like Atreya, Bhāradvāja etc. In the absence of the personal name, it is uncritical to identify every Bhallaveya with Indradyumna himself as it is unreasonable to equate every Atreya with Udamaya or every
Bhāradvaja with Droņa or Piņdola. :. 3 Parisishta parvam, 2nd ed. xviii and Buddhist Suttas. Introduction, p. xlvij.