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Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c28.s2.t6: Other Rishis

Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c28.s2.t6

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Other Rishis

c28.s2.t6.1

Lastly may be noticed Devāpi Ārṣiṣeṇa,¹ the author of hymn x, 98, whose story is often told.² He was apparently the eldest grandson of king Pratīpa, and Śantanu a younger grandson (p. 165). He was an excellent prince³ but had a skin disease,⁴ and so was excluded from the throne by the opposition of the people which was led by the brahmans,⁵ or he declined it in Śantanu’s favour.⁶ So Śantanu became king. Devāpi departed to the forest in his youth⁷ and became a muni, a teacher of the gods.⁸ But a twelve-year drought occurred, which was attributed to the supersession, so Śantanu offered him the kingdom;⁹ but he declined it, became Śantanu’s purohita instead,¹⁰ and composed Rigveda x, 98.¹¹

c28.s2.t6.2

¹ To be distinguished from another Ārṣiṣeṇa, p. 165.

c28.s2.t6.3

² Vā 99, 234, 236. Mat 50, 39-41. Br 13, 117. Hv 32, 1822. Viṣ iv, 20, 4-9. Bhāg ix, 22, 12, 14-17. Other references in p. 165, note 9.

c28.s2.t6.4

³ MBh v, 148, 5054-66.

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⁴ MBh v, Bṛhadd; leprosy, so Mat.

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⁵ Mat, MBh v.

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⁶ Bṛhadd, Bhāg.

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⁷ MBh i and v, Vā, Mat, Viṣ, Bhāg.

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⁸ Vā, Br, Hv.

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⁹ Nirukta, Bṛhadd, Viṣ, Bhāg.

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¹⁰ Nirukta, Bṛhadd.

c28.s2.t6.12

¹¹ Or, according to Viṣ and Bhāg, Śantanu’s ministers (or brahmans) sent teachers who maliciously perverted Devāpi from the Vedas, and he was therefore excluded as a heretic—an amazing story, incompatible with the hymn, with Vā 99, 236, Br 13, 117, Hv 32, 1822, and with the future destined for him, p 165, note 10.

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