The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c24.130

v1.c24.130

As already intimated, the Avesta is in general the oldest source showing Persia’s interest in India, although the greatest uncertainty still prevails among specialists in regard to assigning any precise date or dates. The present writer shares the opinion of those scholars who believe that, however late may be some of its portions, the Avesta in the main is pre-Achaemenian in content; in other words, even though it is possible to recognise Achaemenian, Parthian, and, perhaps, Sassanian elements in the collection, the general tenor of the work and the material on which it is based represent a period antedating the fifth century B.C., or the era when the Persian Empire reached its height¹. For that reason (and with due emphasis on the broad latitude that is to be allowed in the matter of dates) it is appropriate to cite the Avestan references to India, or the region of the Indian frontier, directly after the possible allusions to Persia in the Veda already given.