History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c93.184

v7.c93.184

It may be noted that centuries before Jaimini and Yāska there was a school of Vedic interpreters called 'Aitihāsikas'. For example, Ṛg. X. 98. 5 and 7 refer to Devāpi, son of Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa, and to Śantanu. Yāska (in Nirukta II 10), starting with the words 'tatra itihāsamācakṣate' states that Devāpi and Śantanu were brothers of the Kuru family and the younger brother Śantanu was crowned king ignoring the rights of the elder and that these verses refer to them In Ṛg. X 10 there is a dialogue between Yama and Yamī and Nir. V 2 refers to the 8th verse of it. Those who hold that Veda is eternal would explain Yama as Āditya and Yamī as 'Night'. Ṛg. III. 33 is a dialogue between the sage Viśvāmitra and the rivers. The Nir. (II 25–27) explains verses 5–6 and 10 of that hymn from the Aitihāsika point of view and states that Viśvāmitra was son of king Kuśika and does not mention the Nairukta interpretation of these verses.