A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c8.s3.1

c8.s3.1

There is one class of works which must be mentioned before we leave the Sûtra period, the so-called Pariśiṣṭas. They are evidently later than the Sûtras, and their very name, Paralipomena, marks their secondary importance. They have, however, a character of their own, and they represent a distinct period of Hindu literature, which, though it is of less interest to the student, and though it shows clear traces of intellectual and literary degeneracy, is not on that account to be overlooked by the historian. Some of the more substantial Pariśiṣṭas profess to be composed by authors whose names belong to the Sûtra period. Thus Śaunaka is called the author of the Charaṇavyûha by the commentator of Pâraskara’s Gṛihya-sûtras, Râma-kṛiṣṇa¹ (MS. E.I.H. 440. 577. 912.); a writer no doubt quite untrustworthy where he gives his own opinions, but yet of some importance where he quotes the opinions of others. Kâtyâyana is quoted as the author of the Chhandoga-pariśiṣṭa.² The same Kuśika, who is known as the author of the Sûtras for the Âtharvaṇa, is mentioned as the author of the Âtharvaṇa-pariśiṣṭas also. Other Pariśiṣṭas, though not ascribed to Kâtyâyana, are said to be composed in accordance with his opinions.³ Again, while the Gṛihya-sûtras of the Chhandogas are acknowledged as the work of Gobhila, a Pariśiṣṭa on the same subject is ascribed to the son of Gobhila.⁴ The names of Śaunaka and Kâtyâyana are frequently invoked at the beginning or end of these works, and though some of them appear to us simply useless and insipid, it is not to be denied that others contain information which we should look for in vain in the Sûtras. Their style is less concise than that of the Sûtras. The simple Anushṭubh Śloka preponderates, and the metre is more regular than that of the genuine Anushṭubh compositions of Śaunaka. Their style resembles that of the Bârhaddaivata and Rig-vidhâna, works originally composed by Śaunaka, but handed down to us, as it would seem, in a more modern form. But on the other side the Páriśiṣṭas have not yet fallen into that monotonous uniformity which we find in works like the Mânava-dharma-śâstra, the Paddhatis, or the later Purâṇas; and passages from them are literally quoted in the Purâṇas. The Páriśiṣṭas, therefore, may be considered the very last outskirts of Vedic literature, but they are Vedic in their character, and it would be difficult to account for their origin at any time except the expiring moments of the Vedic age.