A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s5.20

v1.c8.s5.20

² The primary meaning of Sāman is probably "propitiatory song," "a means for appeasing gods and demons." The word sāman also occurs in the sense of "mildness, soothing words." In the older literature, when the Sāmaveda is quoted, it is usually with the words; "The Chandogas say." Chandoga means "Chandas-singer," and *chandas* combines in itself the meanings "magic song," "sacred text" and "metre." The fundamental meaning of the word must be something like "rhythmical speech"; it might be connected with the root *chand* "to please, to satisfy, or to cause to please," (*cf.* chanda, "pleasing, alluring, inviting").