[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v1.c3.s2.35 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s2.35 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s2.35 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s2.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s2.35) There is nothing to show in the older literature what distinction there was, if any, between Itihāsa and Purāṇa; and the late literature,¹¹ which has been elaborately examined by Sieg,¹² yields no consistent result. Geldner¹³ has conjectured that there existed a single work, the Itihāsa-purāṇa, a collection of the old legends of all sorts, heroic, cosmogonic, genealogical; but though a work called Itihāsa, and another called Purāṇa, were probably known to Patañjali,¹⁴ the inaccuracy of Geldner's view is proved by the fact that Yāska shows no sign of having known any such work. To him the Itihāsa may be a part of the Mantra literature itself,¹⁵ Aitihāsikas being merely people who interpret the Rigveda by seeing in it legends where others see myths.¹⁶ The fact, however, that the use of the compound form is rare, and that Yāska regularly has Itihāsa,¹⁷ not Itihāsa-purāṇa, is against the theory of there ever having been one work. - [Previous: v1.c3.s2.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s2.34) - [Next: v1.c3.s2.36](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s2.36) - [Up: v1.c3.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s2.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s2.35) · Pramāṇa