A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.156
A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.156
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v2.c19.s3.t2.156
For this reason the assertion of K. E. *Neumann* that these songs "were already collected and carefully preserved during Gotama's lifetime and soberly fixed soon after his death," is not only without proof, but it is quite impossible for one part of the songs, and improbable for another. Nevertheless, it is possible that some of the songs were already composed by the very first disciples of Buddha. Thus the line which so frequently recurs in the "Songs of the Elders":