Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c21.13

c21.13

Of the eight rishi progenitors, however, the last three, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu, produced no true brahman families, as will be explained,¹ and only from the five others did genuine brahman families claim descent. But it was known that these five families were not all of equal antiquity, because it is said, ‘Four original families (*mūla-gotra*) came into existence, Aṅgiras, Kaśyapa, Vasiṣṭha and Bhṛgu; through action (*karmataḥ*) other families were produced’²—omitting Atri. Tradition supports the later origin of the Ātreyas, and indicates that the Kāśyapas also began later (see chapter XX), so that the only families whose existence is carried back in tradition to the earliest antiquity are the Bhārgavas and Vasiṣṭhas, and perhaps the Aṅgirasas. Still the general allegation came to be that the ancestors of all the families were the mythical primaeval rishis. In the following chapters all these families will be discussed, so far as they purport to have an historical connexion; and here the ground may be cleared by noticing briefly the mythological allegations about certain primaeval rishis in these families. It is said that Pulastya’s offspring were Rākṣasas, Vānaras, Kinnaras and Yakṣas;³ that Pulaha’s offspring were Kimpuruṣas, Piśācas, goblins, lions, tigers and other animals;⁴ and that Kratu had no wife or child, and remained celibate, according to most accounts,⁵ but according to other accounts the Vālakhilyas were his offspring.⁶