विद्वानों का ऐसे इतिहास से अपने यहाँ परिचय नहीं था, यद्यपि सिद्धांतरूप में कार्लाइल कह चुका था कि 'इतिहास वैसा दर्शन है जो दृष्टांतों के माध्यम से शिक्षा देता है।'
टिप्पणियाँ
१.(क) 'History is the one weak point in Indian literature. It is in fact non-existent. The total lack of historical sense is so characteristic that the whole course of Sanskrit literature is darkened by the shadow of this defect, suffering as it does from an entire absence of chronology.'
—Macdonell : Sanskrit Literature. पृ॰ १०।
(ख) 'Ancient India has bequeathed to us no historical works.'
—Pargiter : Ancient Indian Historical Tradition., पृ॰ २।
(ग)यही भूल अरबी यात्री अलबेरूनी ने की थी। १०३० ई॰ में भारत पर लिखित अपनी पुस्तक में वह कहता है—
'Unfortunately the Hindus do not pay much attention to the historical order of things, they are very careless in relating the chronological succession of their kings and when they are pressed for information and are at a loss, not knowing what to say, they invariably take to romancing.'
—E. C. Sachau: Alberuni's India, पृ॰ १०।
२.दे॰ १ (ख)।
३.वायु-पुराण, १, २००-१ पद्म पु॰, ५, २, ५०-२; शिव पु॰, ५, १, ३५; महाभारत, १, २, ६४५ तथा १, १, २६०। पार्जिटर ने उपर्युक्त पुस्तक के प्रथम पृष्ठ पर ये श्लोक उद्धृत किये हैं और संदर्भ-संकेत पाद-टिप्पणी में दिये हैं।
४.(क)"Tradition…is the only resource, since historical works are wanting, and is not an untrustworthy guide. In ancient times men knew perfectly well the difference between truth and falsehood, as abundant proverbs and sayings show. It was natural therefore that they should discriminate what was true and preserve it; and historical tradition must be considered in this light.'
उपरिवत्, पृ॰ ३।
(ख)"The general trustworthiness of tradition is the fact demonstrated, wherever it has been possible to test tradition by the results of discoveries and excavations, and we should distrust scepticism born of ignorance. The position now is this—there is a strong presumption in favour of tradition; if any one contrasts tradition, the burden lies on him to show that it is wrong; and, till he does that, tradition holds the field.'
उपरिवत् पृ॰ ६।
