392 ON THE VEDAS, 



is called the Rlski of that mantra. He is evidently 

 then the author of the prayer; notwithstanding 

 the assertions of the Hindus^ with whom it is an 

 article of their creed, that the Vedas were com- 

 posed by no human author. It must be under- 

 stood, therefore, that, in affirming the primeval 

 existence of their scriptures, they deny these 

 works to be the original composition of the editor 

 (Vya'sa), but believe them to have been gradually 

 revealed to inspired writers. 



The names of the respective authors of each 

 passage are preserved in the Anwicramani, or 

 explanatory table of contents, -(v'hich has been 

 handed down with the Veda itself, and of which 

 the authority is unquestioned *. According to 

 this index, Vis'wa'mitra is author of all the 

 hymns contained in the third book of the RigvSda ; 

 as Bharadwa'ja is, with rare exceptions, the 

 composer of those collected in the sixth book ; 

 Vasisht'ha, in the seventh; Gritsamada, in the 

 second ; Va'made'va in the fourth ; and Bud'ha^ 

 and other descendants of Atri, in the fifth. But, 

 in the remaining books of this VMa, the authors 



Veda, in the explanation here given. By Rishi is generally meant 

 the supposed inspired writer : sometimes, however, the imagined 

 inspirer, is called the Rishi, or saint of the text; and, at other 

 times, as above noticed, the dialogist or speaker of the sentence. 



* It appears from a passage in the Vijeya vildsa, as also from 

 the Vedadipa, or abridged commentary on the Vujasantyi, as 

 well as from the index itself, that Ca'tya'yana is the acknow- 

 ledged author of the index to the white Yajunh, That of the 

 Rigvcda is ascribed by the commentator, to the same Ca'tya'- 

 yana, pupil of Saunaca. The several indexes of the Veda 

 contribute to the preservation of the genuine text; especisilly, 

 where the metre, or the number of syllables, is stated ; as is ge- 

 nerally the case. 



t First of the name, and progenitor of the race of Kings 

 called children of the moon. 



