Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.15

c7.15

The sūtas are often classed with māgadhas and vandins, even in descriptions of ancient times,² and distinctions are sometimes made between these three classes. One statement makes the sūta a *paurānika*, the māgadha a genealogist (*vamśa-śamsaka*), and the vandin a eulogist (*stāvaka*).³ Another makes the two latter eulogists and says much the same of the sūta also.⁴ A third passage says that from Pṛthu’s time the sūtas and māgadhas, who both came into existence then, were royal panegyrists, and they and the vandins awakened the king in the morning with their blessings.⁵ The Mahābhārata has other expressions.⁶