Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c22.61

c22.61

Two sons are given to Cyavana and Sukanyā, Apnavāna and Dadhīca. Apnavāna is mentioned in the Rigveda,⁵ and his name is corrupted in the Puranas to Āpnuvāna,⁶ Āpravāna,⁷ Ātmavāna ⁸ and Ātmavant.⁹ The Matsya account wrongly makes Cyavana and Apnavāna brothers, because Apnavāna’s wife Ruci has the patronymic Nāhuṣi, which means no doubt that she was daughter of the Aila king Nahuṣa, so that he would have been a younger contemporary of Nahuṣa and therefore a descendant rather than brother of Cyavana. Dadhīca is hopelessly enveloped in fable.¹⁰ A son Sārasvata is assigned to him, of whom a fable is narrated.¹¹ Another account gives another son, Pramati, to Cyavana,¹² but the connexion has been greatly contracted as will be explained.