A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c11.211.2

c11.211.2

It is full of allusions to the sacrificial ceremonials, it uses technical philosophical terms, it mentions the three seasons in the order of Vasanta, spring, Grîshma, summer, and Śarad, autumn; it contains the only passage in the Rig-veda where the four castes are enumerated. The evidence of language for the modern date of this composition is equally strong. Grîshma, for instance, the name for the hot season, does not occur in any other hymn of the Rig-veda; and Vasanta also, the name of spring, does not belong to the earliest vocabulary of the Vedic poets. It occurs but once more in the Rig-veda x. 161. 4., in a passage where the three seasons are mentioned in the order of Śarad, autumn, Hemanta, winter, and Vasanta, spring. But in spite of all the indications of a modern date, this hymn, if our argument holds good, must have existed before the beginning of the Brâhmaṇa period. I see no possibility how we could account for the allusions to it which occur in the Brâhmaṇas, or for its presence in the Sanhitâs of the Vajesaneyins and Atharvans, unless we admit that this poem formed part of the final collection of the Rig-veda-sanhitâ, the work of the Mantra period. There are no traces anywhere of hymns having been added after that collection was closed, except in the case of the Khilas, and no secret is ever made as to their spurious character. Oriental scholars are frequently suspected of a desire to make the literature of the eastern nations appear more ancient than it is.