A History of Sanskrit Literature c8.15

c8.15

The incestuous union which forms the main theme of the poem, though rejected as contrary to the higher ethical standard of the *Rigveda*, was doubtless the survival of an already existing myth of the descent of mankind from primeval "twins." This myth, indeed, seems to have been handed down from the Indo-Iranian period, for the later Avestan literature makes mention of Yimeh as a sister of Yima. Even the name of Yama's father goes back to that period, for Yima is the son of Vīvanhvant in the *Avesta* as Yama is of Vivasvat in the *Rigveda*.