96 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
through an irregularity of the hotri-priest a daughter called Ila was born. Then through the favour of Mitra and Varuna she became to Manu a son called Sudyumna. But being again changed into a female through the wrath of Isvara (Mahadeva) she wandered near the hermitage of Budha the son of Soma (the Moon); who becoming enamoured of her had by her a son called Pururavas. After his birth, the god who is formed of sacrifice, of the Rik, Yajus, Saman, and Atharva Vedas, of all things, of mind, of nothing, he who is in the form of the sacrificial Male, was worshipped by the rishis of infinite splendour who desired that Sudyumna should recover his manhood. Through the favour of this god Ila became again Sudyumna.”
The Vishnu Purana then proceeds to give the following particulars regarding the sons of Manu :
“ (i) Prishadhra became a Shudra in consequence of his having killed his religious preceptor’s cow.
(ii) From Karusha the Karushas, Kshatriyas of great power were descended.
(iii) Nabhaga, the son of Nedishta became a Vaishya.”
The above is the story of the Solar race. The Vishnu Purana [1] has also a parallel story relating to the Lunar race which according to it sprang from Atri just as the Solar race from Manu :
“Atri was the son of Brahma, and the father of Soma (the moon), whom Brahma installed as the sovereign of plants, Brahmins and stars. After celebrating the rajasuya sacrifice, Soma became intoxicated with pride, and carried off Tara (Star), the wife of Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods, whom, although admonished and entreated by Brahma, the gods, and rishis, Soma refused to restore. Soma’s part was taken by Usanas; and Rudra, who had studied under Angiras, aided Brihaspati. A fierce conflict ensued between the two sides supported respectively by the gods and the Daityas, etc., Brahma interposed, and compelled Soma to restore Tara to her husband. She had, however, in the meantime become pregnant, and bore a son Budha (the planet Mercury), of whom when strongly urged, she acknowledged Soma to be the father. Pururavas [2] was the son of this Budha by Ila, the daughter of Manu. Pururavas [3] had six sons, of whom the eldest was Ayus. Ayus had five sons; Nahusha, Kshattravriddha, Rambha, Raji and Anenas.
Kshattravriddha had a son Sunahotra who had three sons, Kasa, Lesa and Gritsamada. From the last sprang Saunaka, who originated the system of four castes. Kasa had a son, Kasiraja, of whom again Dirghatamas was the son, as Dhanvantari was of Dirghatamas.”
Compare these ideologies of creation with those set out in Chapter
2 and what do we find? I think the result of comparison may be set down in the following propositions: (1) one is sacerdotal in
1 Muir, Vol. I, pp. 225-226.
2 The loves of Pururavas and the Apsara Urvasi, are related in the Satapatha Brahmanas, xi. 5.1.11; in the Vishnu Purana, vi. 6.19. ff; in the Bhagavata Purana, ix.
14; and in the Harivamsa, section 26. The Manabharata, Adip, section 75, alludes to Pururavas as having been engaged in a contest with the Brahmins. This passage will be quoted hereafter.
3 Vishnu Purana, iv.7.1.