Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.119

c7.119

Paurāṇa often means ‘ancient’,¹⁷ but sometimes ‘belonging to, connected with or mentioned in the Purana (or Puranas)’.¹⁸ The word purātana is used, denoting sometimes men not really ancient, such as the brahmans who treated of the dynasties of the Kali age¹ not earlier than about the sixth century B.C., but sometimes men more ancient as those who sang about Saśabindu² and Alarka.³