Mr. CoLEiiROOKE on the Philosophy of the Hindus, 449 



it (jnutatis mutandis') to a different ceremony from that for whicli primarily 

 it was intended, or the insertion of an individual's personal and family 

 names where this is requisite, are not considered to be part of the 

 mantra. 



It is likewise to be observed, although mantras of the vedas are ordinarily 

 significant, that the chants of the Sdmaveda are unmeaning. They consist 

 of a few syllables, as ird dyird, or gird gdyird, repeated again and again, as 

 required by the tune or rhythm. Nevertheless, significant mantras are like- 

 wise chanted ; and two of the books of the Sdmaveda are allotted to hymns 

 of this description. The hymns consist of triplets (trick) or triple stanzas. 



The first, or pattern verse or stanza, is found, with the name of the 

 appropriate tune, in the Chhandas or Y/mi-grant'ha; and the two remaining 

 verses or stanzas, to complete the triplet, are furnished in the supplementary 

 book called Uttara-granCha, 



Maiitras are distinguished under three designations. Those which are in 

 metre are termed rich, those chanted are sdman, and the rest are yajush, 

 sacrificial prayers in prose (for yajush imports sacrifice). Nevertheless, 

 metrical prayers occur in the Yqjurveda, and .prose in the Sdmaveda. 



The metrical prayers are recited aloud : tliose termed sdman with musical 

 modulation ; but the prose inaudibly muttered.* Such, however, as are 

 vocative, addressed to a second person, are to be uttered audibly, though in 

 prose : for communication is intended.! 



Metrical prayers, however, belonging to the Yajurveda are inaudiblv 

 recited ; and so are chants belonging to the same inaudibly chanted : for 

 prayers take the character of the rite into which they are introduced; and 

 where the same rite is ordained in more than one veda, it appertains to that 

 with which it is most consonant, and the prayer is either audibly or in- 

 audibly chanted accordingly.^ 



The prayers termed rich and sdman are limited by the metre and the 

 chant respectively ; but those which are in prose are regulated as to their 

 extent by the sense. A complete sentence constitutes a single yajush : the 

 sense must be one, and would be deficient were the phrase divided. Never- 

 theless, the sentence which constitutes a prayer may borrow from a pre- 



Mhi. 3. 3. 1. f lb. 2. 1. 7-U. X W. 3. 3. 1-3. See Note B. 



3 N '2 



