Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.121

c7.121

The way in which these terms are introduced shows that they do not refer to the present Puranas and hardly even to the original Purana, but more probably to ancient minstrels, because no songs could have been handed down unless there had been a succession of minstrels, as is natural; and the verses that are quoted are scraps of song, evidently the remains of larger ballads, for there are always pieces of ancient poetry surviving.