Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.123

c7.123

The same fact is proved by the word cintaka, which in vamśa-cintaka¹ proves that men did give thought to ancient genealogies, just as it shows in Veda-cintaka² that men gave thought to the Veda, as is well known. Similarly are used the terms vamśa-purāṇa-jña³ and anuvamśa-purāṇa-jña,⁴ meaning either ‘one who knew the genealogies and Purana’, or better ‘one who knew the ancient tales connected with the genealogies’. It thus appears that ancient genealogies and tales were matters of study as well as the Veda, but the brahmans, with the growing pretensions of their caste and doctrines, and through the political vicissitudes that befell North India, exalted the Vedic literature to the undue deprecation of non-religious lore.