Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c6.13

c6.13

74. First in practical importance stand divergences of language, in which we include both grammar and vocabulary. These are so numerous that there are few stanzas in the Rigveda which do not contain one or two: and though the evidence of a small number of instances is not final, yet it is of great value in giving in almost all cases a first presumption as to the class to which a hymn belongs. In §§ 84—87 will be found lists of the distinctive linguistic features of each class of hymns, drawn up upon principles which are mainly mechanical, and therefore free from the influence of personal bias, though subject in detail to the occasional play of chance: and in the ‘Table of Hymns’ will be found stated the number of instances of each kind to be found in the hymns and stanzas, so far as it is necessary to treat them separately. It remains to consider how much importance can be attached to this kind of evidence in individual cases.