The History of Indian Literature c8.334

c8.334

of the purification of the fire,¹³⁴ and here it quotes almost in their entirety the three last books but one of the Saṃhitá (xxxvii.–xxxix.); the last six *adhyáyas* are of a purely speculative and legendary character, and form by themselves a distinct work, or Upanishad, under the name of *Vṛihad-Áraṇyaka*. This general summary of the contents of the several *káṇḍas* of itself suggests the conjecture that the first nine constitute the most ancient part of the Bráhmaṇa, and that the last five, on the contrary, are of later origin,—a conjecture which closer investigation reduces to a certainty, both on external and internal evidence. With reference to the external evidence, in the first place, we find it distinctly stated in the passage of the Mahá-Bhárata above alluded to (xii. 11734) that the complete Śatapatha comprises a *Rahasya* (the tenth *káṇḍa*), a *Saṃgraha* (the eleventh *káṇḍa*), and a *Pariśesha* (the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth *káṇḍas*). Further, in the *várttika* already quoted for the name Śatapatha, we also meet with the word *shashṭipatha*¹³⁵ as the name of a work; and I have no hesitation in referring this name to the first nine *káṇḍas*, which collectively number sixty *adhyáyas*. On the other hand, in support of the opinion that the last five *káṇḍas* are a later addition to the first nine, I have to adduce the term *Madhyama* ("the middle one"), the name of the twelfth *káṇḍa*, which can only be accounted for in this way, whether we refer it merely to the last three *káṇḍas* but one, or to all the five.*