A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c6.121

c6.121

In several parts of the Brâhmaṇas and Âraṇyakas, when an account is given of the literature, known to the ancient Hindus, we meet with the names of Gâthâ, Nâraśansî, Itihâsa, and Âkhyâna⁷ (songs, legends, epic poems, and stories) as parts of the Vedic literature. The occurrence of titles of literary works like these, has been made use of to prove the existence, at that early period, of the writings which afterwards were designated by the same names. But though the Mahâbhârata is called an *Itihâsa*, and the Râmâyaṇa an *Âkhyâna*, and though many works have in later times become famous under the name of *Purâṇas*, yet these enumerations of literary works in the Brâhmaṇas do not refer to them.¹ They contain only general names or