A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s6.27

v1.c8.s6.27

Now as regards the prayers and sacrificial formulae themselves, which form the principal contents of the Yajurveda-Saṃhitās, they consist partly of verses (ṛc), partly of prose sentences. It is the latter which are called "Yajus," and from which the Yajurveda takes its name. The prose of these prayers is occasionally rhythmical and here and there even rises to poetical flight.¹ The verses which occur are mostly found also in the Ṛgveda-Saṁhitā. The various readings, however, which the Yajurveda often presents, are not indeed more ancient than the text found in the Ṛgveda, but they are mostly intentional alterations which were made in the verses, in order to bring them more into line with the sacrificial acts. Only rarely were whole hymns of the Ṛgveda included in the Yajurveda-Saṁhitās; mostly they are only single verses, torn from their context, which just appeared suitable to some sacrificial ceremony or other, and were therefore included in the Veda of prayers. Therefore these verses are of less interest to us. The characteristic element of the Yajurveda is the prose formulae and prayers.²