388 ON THE ve'das, 



its Saiihita. Every otlier portion of Lidian scrip- 

 ture is included under the general head of divi- 

 nity (Brahman a). This comprises precepts, which 

 inculcate religious duties; maxims, which explain 

 those precepts ; and arguments, which relate to 

 theology *. But, in the present arrangement of 

 the Vedas, the portion, which contains passages 

 called Brahman as, includes many which are strictly 

 prayers or Mantras. The theology of the Indian 

 scripture, comprehending the argumentative por- 

 tion entitled Vedanta, is contained in tracts deno- 

 minated Upanishads ; some of which are portions 

 of the BraJiman'a, properly so called ; others are 

 found only in a detached form ; and one is a part 

 of a Sanhitd itself. 



On the Rigve'da. 



THE Sanhitd of the first Veda-\ contains man- 

 tras, or prayers, which, for the most part, arc 

 encomiastick ; as the name of the Rigvcda im- 

 plies J. This collection is divided into eight parts 



* The explanation, here given, is taken from the Prast'hana 

 bhida. 



t I have several copies of it, with Ihc corresponding index for 

 the Sacalya, S'acha; and also an excellent connnentary by 

 Sayan'a cha'rya. In another collection of mantras, belong- 

 ing to the ^As'ivaluyani S'uc'ha of this Vtda, I find the first few 

 sections of each lecture agree with the other copies ; but the rest 

 of the sections are omitted. I question whether it be intended as 

 a complete copy for that S'uc'ha. 



J Derived from tjje verb rich, to laud ; and properly signify- 

 ing any prayer or hymn, in which a deity is praised. As those 

 are mostly in verse, the term becomes also applicable to such 

 passages of any Veda, as are reducible to measure according to 

 tlie rules of prosody. Tiie first Ftda, iii Vya'sa's compilation, 

 1 



