Hindu Administrative Institutions c9.s2.30

c9.s2.30

The learned Tamil commentator pursues the subject further and divides education into three classes: superior, middling, and inferior. The three Vedas, Rig, Yajus, and Sāman belong to the first class. The second constitutes Atharva Veda, the six aṅgas: niruktam, vyākaraṇam, kalpam, gaṇitam, jyotisham and chhandas, and the eighteen Dharmaśāstras of Manu and others. Under the last category come the itihāsas, purāṇas and other miscellaneous literature. Instructions would be fructifying if the Guru first understood the capacity and the taste which the student possessed and then imparted him lessons according to his grasp and understanding.¹ The object of this education is to discipline the mind, speech, and body.² Further it will tend to increase the intelligence, fame and even the age of a person.³