Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c8.127

c8.127

The passage² which cites the Bhaviṣyat Purana runs thus, as translated by Bühler³—‘“These (sons) who live, fulfilling the rites taught (in the Veda), increase the fame and heavenly bliss of their departed ancestors. In this manner each succeeding (generation increases the fame and heavenly bliss) of the preceding ones. They (the ancestors) live in heaven until the (next) general destruction of created things. (After the destruction of the world, they stay) again in heaven, being the seed (of the new creation)”. That has been declared in the Bhaviṣyatpurāṇa’. This is expressed in concise prose, and it is clear that Āpastamba has summarized herein the doctrine of the Bhaviṣyat Purana, and has even severely condensed it. He does not name the ancestors as pitṛs, but it is obvious that he has ranked them as Pitṛs, as of course they are.