The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c20.2

v1.c20.2

THE later Brāhman literature which, whatever may be the age of its representative works in their present form, undoubtedly had its roots in a period at least as early as the rise of Jainism and Buddhism, may be classified under the four headings—Sūtras, Epic poems, Law-books, and Purāṇas. These belong to two distinct species of literary composition, the Sūtras being broadly distinguished from the others both in form and object.