Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.106

c7.106

That there were men whose business it was to know the ancient genealogies and tales is proved by various expressions often met with, for nothing less than this can be implied by the frequent references to them as authoritative exponents of ancient events and by the many terms used to describe them. Thus, first, as regards ancient tradition generally, we find the term purā-vid, designating those who sang an ancient genealogical verse about the famous Yādava king Śaśabindu,⁶ those who sang the songs of the pitṛs,⁷ and others.⁸ Its use was extended to later minstrels in additions made to the Puranas, and so the Vāyu in its description of the dynasties of the Kali age applies it to those who sang about the last Paurava king,⁹ the Mahābhārata to those who sang about gifts,¹⁰ and the late Bhāgavata to those who sang about Kṛṣṇa.¹¹