Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c10.119

c10.119

The laudatory tales are not generally of historical value, for they are often exaggerated, sometimes absurd or impossible, and frequently violate chronology, such as Rāma Dāśarathi’s alleged fight with Rāma Jāmadagnya¹ and that of Bhīṣma with the same,² for Rāma Jāmadagnya lived long before them : but sometimes such tales are expressed in less extravagant terms, such as the praise of Arjuna Kārtavīrya³ and Māndhātṛ,⁴ though even these are highly coloured.