Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c17.29

c17.29

Of the first of these kinds is the introduction of famous rishis, as noticed at page 67; and as where it is said the Ātreya rishi Durvāsas visited the Pāṇḍavas in their exile,³ though his real period was far anterior and he is introduced into the story of Śakuntalā, their distant ancestress. It is generally rishis who appear on such occasions in defiance of chronology, and rarely that kings so appear. The second kind comprises all sorts of notices, from brief allusions to long stories. As such may be cited these—Māndhātṛ conquered the Aṅga Bṛhadratha,¹ who was long posterior : and Bhagīratha was a contemporary of Jahnu, king of Kānyakubja.² It is in brahmanical stories that such spurious synchronisms are generally found, and they are often mere expedients for hanging some precept or doctrine upon, as that Suhotra, the Paurava king, encountered Śivi Auśīnara to learn deference to superior virtue³; or for the purpose of exalting the dignity of brahmans, as that Agastya vanquished Nahuṣa.⁴ Similarly are erroneously connected Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra as priest to Śaryāti,⁵ Cyavana as cursing the Haihaya king Kṛtavīrya,⁶ and many others.⁷