Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c15.11

c15.11

Thirdly, the existence of spurious genealogies testifies in favour of these genealogies. They are of two kinds, first, the wrong derivation of true genealogies, and secondly, wholly spurious pedigrees. Of the former kind several have been noticed in chapter IX, and the plainest instance is the derivation of the Kānyakubja dynasty from Ajamīḍha of the Paurava line, which has been demonstrated there to be wrong. Of wholly spurious genealogies there are two kinds, first the brahman vamśas, which will be dealt with afterwards (chapters XVI f.) and are obviously late attempts to construct vamśas out of the information that was available; and secondly, imaginary genealogies, such as those connected with Dakṣa and creation, and that of the various kinds of Fires.¹ The difference between the royal genealogies and such genealogies is most striking, revealing the distinction between what is genuine and what is a fake.