A History of Sanskrit Literature c12.61

c12.61

Later, at least, than the original form of these metrical Anukramaṇīs, is the *Sarvānukramaṇī* of KĀTYĀYANA, which combines the data contained in them within the compass of a single work. Composed in the Sūtra style, it is of considerable length, occupying about fortysix pages in the printed edition. For every hymn in the *Rigveda* it states the initial word or words, the number of its verses, as well as the author, the deity, and the metre, even for single verses. There is an introduction in twelve sections, nine of which form a short treatise on Vedic metres corresponding to the last three sections of the *Rigveda Prātiçākhya*. The author begins with the statement that he is going to supply an index of the *pratīkas* and so forth of the *Rigveda* according to the authorities (*yathopadeçam*), because without such knowledge the Çrauta and Smārta rites cannot be accomplished. These authorities are doubtless the metrical indices described above. For the text of the *Sarvānukramaṇī*, which is composed in a concise Sūtra style, not only contains some metrical lines (*pādas*), but also a number of passages either directly taken from the *Ārshānukramaṇī* and the *Bṛihaddevatā*, or with their metrical wording but slightly altered. Another metrical work attributed to Çaunaka is the *Ṛigvidhāna*, which describes the magical effects produced by the recitation of hymns or single verses of the *Rigveda*.