History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c90.133

v7.c90.133

Pargiter did not stop to consider possible explanations. One of the most plausible is now put forth. The Mahābhārata and the Purāṇas (a very extensive literature) were attributed to Vyāsa, who, as shown above in n. 1390, had come to be looked upon as Viṣṇu or as an avatāra of Viṣṇu. The four Vedas and the several different śākhās (recensions) of each Veda were well known. By a sort of post facto explanation, the distribution of the Veda into four main groups was claimed to have been brought about by the divinely inspired Vyāsa, whose Purāṇas are, as will be apparent from note 1349 above and as will be shown in more detail later, glorified as even anterior and superior to the Veda The eternality of the Veda had to be maintained and at the same time Vyāsa was to be glorified.