A History of Sanskrit Literature c12.60

c12.60

There is another short index, known as yet only in two MSS., called the *Pādānukramaṇī*, or "index of lines" (*pādas*), and composed in the same mixed metre as the others. The *Sūktānukramaṇī*, which has not survived, and is only known by name, probably consisted only of the initial words (*pratīkas*) of the hymns. It probably perished because the *Sarvānukramaṇī* would have rendered such a work superfluous. No MS. of the *Devatānukramaṇī* or "Index of gods" exists, but ten quotations from it have been preserved by the commentator Shaḍguruçishya. It must have been superseded by the *Bṛihaddevatā*, an index of the "many gods," a much more extensive work than any of the other Anukramaṇīs, as it contains about 1200 çlokas interspersed with occasional *trishṭubhs*. It is divided into eight *adhyāyas* corresponding to the *ashṭakas* of the *Rigveda*. Following the order of the *Rigveda*, its main object is to state the deity for each verse. But as it contains a large number of illustrative myths and legends, it is of great value as an early collection of stories. It is to a considerable extent based on Yāska's *Nirukta*. Besides Yāska himself and other teachers named by that scholar, it also mentions Bhāguri and Āçvalāyana as well as the *Nidāna Sūtra*. A peculiarity of this work is that it refers to a number of supplementary hymns (*khilas*) which do not form part of the canonical text of the *Rigveda*.