Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.109

v2.c4.109

Zimmer²² thinks that the king might act as his own Purohita, as shown by the case of King Viśvantara, who sacrificed without the help of the Śyāparṇas,²³ and that a Purohita need not be a priest, as shown by the case of Devāpi and Śantanu.²⁴ But neither opinion seems to be justified. It is not said that Viśvantara sacrificed without priests, while Devāpi is not regarded as a king until the Nirukta,²⁵ and there is no reason to suppose that Yāska’s view expressed in that work is correct.