A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c6.126

c6.126

Sâyaṇa himself is sometimes doubtful, and in his Commentary on the Taittirîya-âraṇyaka, for instance, he says that, by purâṇa might be meant the Brahmâṇḍa, &c.; and by itihâsa, the Mahâbhârata. This, however, is a mistake, and it would bring Sâyaṇa into contradiction with himself. He has fully proved in his Introduction to the Rig-veda that in this passage of the Taittirîya-âraṇyaka, no works separate from the Veda could be understood. Cf. Rig-veda sanhitâ, p. 23. Dr. Weber, in his extracts from Pâṇini (iv. 2. 60.), shows that vyâkhyâna, âkhyâna, kathâ, âkhyâyikâ, itihâsa, and purâṇa, were titles of literary works known at the time of Kâtyâyana. But he inclines to the opinion that Kâtyâyana did not mean the Mahâbhârata, Râmâyaṇa, and the Purâṇas, as we now possess them, by these general names. Cf. Indische Studien, i. p. 147.