A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c9.s2.7

c9.s2.7

“But it might be objected,” Sâyaṇa continues, “that for instance in the chapter on the Brahmayajna, other parts of the Veda are mentioned besides the Brâhmaṇas and Mantras, under the title of Itihâsas, (epic stories) Purâṇas (cosmogonic stories), Kalpas (ceremonial rules), Gâthâs (songs), Nârâśansîs, (heroic poems). This however would be the same mistake, as if we should place a Brahman coordinate with a Brahman who is a mendicant. For all these titles, like Itihâsa, &c., apply only to subdivisions of the Brâhmaṇas. Thus, passages from the Brâhmaṇas, like ‘The gods and the Asuras were fighting,’ &c., would be called Itihâsas; other passages like ‘In the beginning there was nothing,’ would be called Purâṇas; therefore we may safely say, that the Veda consists of two parts only, of Mantras and Brâhmaṇas.”¹