Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c18.109

c18.109

The introduction of the Maruts into this story illustrates how mythology apparently grew out of a misunderstanding of names. Bṛhaspati lived in the kingdom of Marutta, as mentioned above, and was a preceptor among the Maruttas. The Bṛhaddevatā (v, 102-3), misunderstanding this name through the brahmanic lack of the historical sense, says he was a preceptor among the Maruts. His son Bharadvāja was born there, among the Maruttas, and so also would have been his grandson (or great grandson) Vidathin Bharadvāja. When king Bharata lost his sons, Dīrghatamas, if his priest then (or one of his family, if he was then dead), might naturally have suggested that his own relative, the young Bharadvāja, might be adopted. So the youth was brought from the Maruttas and given in adoption to the king; and this act, by the same misunderstanding, was mythologized into the statement that the Maruts gave Bharadvāja to Bharata.³