A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s2.67

v1.c8.s2.67

² This is not the place to express an opinion on all the controversial questions which concern Vedic Mythology. The best representation of the *facts* of Vedic Mythology is given by A. A. Macdonell, "Vedic Mythology" (in the "*Grundriss*" III, I, A.). Whoever desires information with reference to the *explanation* of the myths and religious belief of the ancient Indians, must at all events consult both H. Oldenberg's "*Religion des Veda*" (Berlin 1894) *and also* A. Hillebrandt's "*Vedische Mythologie*" (3 vols., Breslau 1891-1902). Different as are the results arrived at by the two investigators, both have greatly contributed to the extension and deepening of our knowledge of the Vedic religion. Even the outsider, however, must be quite clear that, in these questions, absolute truth can never be attained, in fact can always only be approached more or less closely. Great services have been rendered to the investigation of Vedic religion and still more to the explanation of the hymns of the Ṛgveda, by the French scholar Abel *Bergaigne*, ("La religion védique d'après les hymnes du Ṛg-veda," 3 vols., Paris, 1878-1883).