Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c18.51

c18.51

First is a story about Bṛhaspati and Saṃvarta, which contains pieces of tradition, though largely marred by later extravagances.¹ Aṅgiras² was priest to king Karandhama of the Vaiśāla dynasty. Karandhama’s son was Avīkṣit, and his son the famous Marutta Āvikṣita.³ Aṅgiras had two sons, Bṛhaspati and Saṃvarta, who were thus Marutta’s hereditary priests⁴ and lived in his kingdom of Vaiśālī. They were at perpetual strife. Bṛhaspati declined to be Marutta’s priest, declaring that he was Indra’s priest,⁵ so Marutta chose Saṃvarta and by his aid performed magnificent sacrifices.⁶ This Marutta gave his daughter to Aṅgiras Saṃvarta (chapter XI).