[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [Ancient Indian Historical Tradition](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922) › c7.113 # Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.113 Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.113 - **Language:** English ### [c7.113](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c7.113) Other terms, such as purāṇa-jña,¹² purāṇa-vid,¹³ paurāṇika,¹⁴ and purāṇika,¹⁵ often mean merely ‘one who knows the Purana (or Puranas)’ and are found so used;¹ as also the precise expressions, Purāṇa-vettṛ,² Purāṇa-vācaka,³ and others.⁴ But at other times purāṇa-jña, purāṇa-vid and paurāṇika imply more and can only mean ‘one who knows the ancient tales’. Thus, as regards purāṇa-jñas, vaṃśa-vids are cited as quoting an old verse sung by purāṇa-jñas as older authorities about Māndhātṛ⁵; paurāṇikas are cited as quoting an old verse sung by purāṇa-jñas about Datta Ātreya;⁶ and a verse about king Devāvṛdha is repeated as well known from a genealogy recited by purāṇa-jñas.⁷ This term is applied even to maharṣis,⁸ when it cannot reasonably mean merely ‘knowing the Purana’.⁹ Similarly purāṇa-vid janas are quoted as singing a song about Rāma Dāśarathi of Ayodhyā,¹⁰ about king Rantideva,¹¹ and about king Vyuṣitāśva of Ayodhyā,¹² and others.¹³ Paurāṇika generally refers to the Puranas and means ‘one who knows the Puranas’,¹⁴ yet it appears sometimes to mean ‘those who know the purāṇas or ancient stories’,¹⁵ as in the old kṣatriya ballad about king Satyavrata Triśaṅku, in which the Vāyu and Brahmāṇḍa quote verses more ancient than themselves as having been recited by paurāṇika janas.¹⁶ - [Previous: c7.112](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c7.112) - [Next: c7.114](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c7.114) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c7.113](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c7.113) · Pramāṇa