Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.59

c7.59

The Vāyu, Brahmāṇḍa and Viṣṇu give an account, how the original Purana came into existence;¹⁰ and the Bhāgavata also gives an account,¹¹ which however is different and, being late and untrustworthy, need not be noticed. Those three Puranas say—Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana divided the single Veda into four and arranged them, and so was called Vyāsa. He entrusted them to his four disciples, one to each, namely Paila, Vaiśampāyana, Jaimini and Sumantu.¹² Then with tales, anecdotes, songs and lore that had come down from the ages he compiled a Purana,¹³ and taught it and the Itihāsa to his fifth disciple, the sūta Romaharṣaṇa or Lomaharṣaṇa.¹⁴