Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c25.s1.20

c25.s1.20

The next famous Kāśyapa was the rishi Asita.⁴ His wife was Ekaparṇā (p. 69), and their son was Devala.⁵ This portion is given in the genealogy. Devala is often called Asita Devala,⁶ and sometimes even simply Asita;⁷ hence it is not always clear which is meant, and he must be distinguished from other Devalas.⁸ The genealogy says that Devala, and therefore Asita presumably, were Śāṇḍilyas, thus indicating that it is imperfect, and that they must have had an ancestor Śaṇḍila, who lived much earlier, as pointed out above. Asita is made contemporary with Bhīṣma, for he had asked for Satyavatī in marriage;⁹ Devala with the Pāṇḍavas,¹⁰ and Devala’s younger brother (cousin?) Dhaumya became their purohita.¹ Both Asita and Devala were celebrated brahma-vādins, as mentioned above;² and other statements are made about them in brahmanical accounts.³