Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c31.61

c31.61

The foregoing sketch has explained the development of brahmanism in its general aspect, and we may now consider what an examination of the reputed authorship of the Rigvedic hymns discloses.³ A small number are attributed (putting aside seemingly mythological beings such as Triśiras Tvāṣṭra¹ and Ariṣṭanemi Tārkṣya) to very early kings such as Manu Vaivasvata,² Nābhānediṣṭha Mānava,³ Śāryāta Mānava,⁴ Vatsaprī Bhālandana⁵ and Mandhātṛ Yauvanāśva;⁶ or to very ancient rishis who are not free from myth such as Cyavana Bhārgava,⁷ Kavi Bhārgava⁸ and Uśanas Kāvya;⁹ but when hymns are ascribed to truly historical rishis, none are earlier than Viśvāmitra’s time. The chronological list (p. 191) shows that the earliest really historical rishi-authors were Viśvāmitra, his sons Madhucchandas, Śunaḥśepa-Devarāta, &c., and Jamadagni. With his time then we enter definitely upon the true Vedic age, and all the other reputed authors who were historical were later, as has been shown with regard to the prominent rishis in that list and the kings in the earlier list (pp. 144 f).