Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c8.170

c8.170

These Puranas also declare that they repeat the doctrine concerning the Pitṛs, which was expounded in ‘a Purana’ or more probably in ‘the Purana’,⁹ so that it was the ancient belief. ‘The Purana’ would obviously mean the original Purana. ‘A Purana’ might very appropriately mean the Bhaviṣyat, because the Bhaviṣyat would naturally treat of such future matters. From whatever Purana then they quoted this doctrine, they manifestly repeat the ancient belief that would have been expounded in the Bhaviṣyat in Āpastamba’s time.