Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c21.32

c21.32

Among the Bhārgavas Bhṛgu and Kavi are purely mythical, but as regards Uśanas-Śukra, who is called their son, it must be noted that Uśanas and Śukra were names of the planet Venus also, and the two must be distinguished. The rishi always appears as the great priest of the Daityas and Dānavas (chapter XVII) and as the antagonist of the second Bṛhaspati with the same chronological position. But he and the planet were confused and identified,² and so the latter is styled in astronomical accounts Bhārgava, the ‘sacrificing priest of the asuras’ and ‘divine’.³ Further, since the first and second Bṛhaspatis were confused, the antagonism led to this rishi’s being foisted as Bṛhaspati’s adversary into the story of Tārā in late Puranas.⁴