The History of Indian Literature c8.79

c8.79

But while the origin of the songs of the Ṛik dates from this primitive time, the redaction of the Ṛik-Saṃhitá only took place, as we observed, at a period when the Brahmanical hierarchy was fully developed, and when the Kosala-Videhas and Kuru-Pañchálas,∗ who are to be regarded as having been specially instrumental in effecting it, were in their prime. It is also certain that not a few of the songs were composed either at the time of the emigration into Hindustán, or at the time of the compilation itself. Such songs are to be found in the last book especially, a comparatively large portion of which, as I have already remarked, recurs in the Atharvaveda-Saṃhitá. It is for the critic to determine approximately in the case of each individual song, having regard to its contents, its ideas, its language, and the traditions connected with it, to what period it ought possibly to be ascribed. But as yet this task is only set; its solution has not yet even begun.²⁸