The History of Indian Literature c9.24.2

c9.24.2

On the other hand, in the Sarpa-vidyā (‘serpent-knowledge’) and the Devajana-vidyá (‘genealogies of the gods')—to which, in the passage in question, the distribution into *parvans*, that is to say, existence in a distinct form, is expressly assigned—we have in all probability to recognise mythological accounts, which from their nature might very well be regarded as precursors of the epic. We have likewise already specified as forerunners of the epic poetry, those myths and legends which are found interspersed throughout the Bráhmaṇas, here and there, too, in rhythmic form,∗ or which lived on elsewhere in the tradition regarding the origin of the songs of the Ṛik. Indeed, a few short prose legends of this sort have been actually preserved here and there in the epic itself. The Gáthás also—stanzas in the Bráhmaṇas, extolling individual deeds of prowess—have already been cited in the like connection: they were sung to the accompaniment of the lute, and were composed in honour either of the prince of the day or of the pious kings of old (see *I. St.*, i. 187). As regards the extant epic—the *Mahá-Bhárata*—specially, we have already pointed out the mention in the Taittiríya-Áraṇyaka, of Vyása Páráśarya¹⁹⁹ and Vaiśampáyana,²⁰⁰ who are given in the poem itself as its original authors; and we have also remarked (p.