Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c6.19

c6.19

One indication of this difference is the fact that, while kings are treated genealogically, brahmanic succession is reckoned by the line of teaching as shown in the lists of religious teachers set out in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad,¹ Satapatha Brāhmaṇa,² &c.³ Marriage alliances were matters of high importance with kings and are often noticed. As regards rishis, though the names of the wives of certain have been preserved, yet very little is ever said about their marriages except when they married princesses; and strange stories are told about rishis, which indicate that their marital relations were not seldom erratic and their lineage by no means pure.¹