[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v7.c99.338 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c99.338 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c99.338 - **Language:** English ### [v7.c99.338](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.338) Brāhmaṇa or Brāhmaṇas (texts, acc. to context), all those parts of the Veda which are not or cannot be called mantras constitute B. 1222-23; are primary sources of information about sacrifices, ritual, priests etc. 1223, contain oldest prose found in any Indo-European language 1223, contain numerous myths and legends, 1223; contents can be divided into two classes viz. vidhis (hortatory) and arthavādas (explanatory or laudatory) 1223; often mention contests between Gods and Asuras and abound in etymologies 1223; order (\*krama\*) of rites as expressed in mantras is to be preferred to the order contained in Br. texts 1316; principal purpose and aim of Br. of the Veda is to prescribe the rituals of sacrifices, to narrate myths and legends about sacrifices and to state rewards of sacrifices, 1497; ten characteristics of B. acc. to Vṛttikāra 1223n. - [Previous: v7.c99.337](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.337) - [Next: v7.c99.339](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.339) - [Up: v7.c99](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.338](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.338) · Pramāṇa