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Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c28.s2.t1: Śaunakas and Ārṣṭiṣeṇas

Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c28.s2.t1

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Śaunakas and Ārṣṭiṣeṇas

c28.s2.t1.1

The first instance occurred in the Kāśi dynasty. Sunahotra, one of the earliest kings, had three sons, Kāśa, Śala and Gṛtsamada. Gṛtsamada’s son was Śunaka, and from him were descended the Śaunkas, who comprised all four castes. Śala’s son was Ārṣṭiṣeṇa. The Śaunakas and Ārṣṭiṣeṇas were kṣatriyan brahmans.² ‘Son’ here means probably ‘descendant’, but even so, this statement implies a very early time for these two gotras. It is not said that they were admitted into any of the great brahman families. This Ārṣṭiṣeṇa is the rishi mentioned above (p. 165, note ¹¹). There was a Śaunaka among the Bhārgavas (p. 201) who was different, and these Śaunakas would seem to be the gotra named among the Ātreyas.³ Nothing more, however, definite is said about these two sub-families.

c28.s2.t1.2

² Vā 92, 3-6. Bd iii, 67, 3-6. Br 11, 32-4. Hv 29, 1518-20. Bhāg ix, 17, 2-3 somewhat similarly.

c28.s2.t1.3

³ Mat 197, 2, where perhaps read ŚaunakaĀrṣṭiṣeṇau.

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