Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c11.s4.129

c11.s4.129

9. **Gāthā**, a Rigvedic¹⁰ term meaning "song or verse", in one place¹¹ is classed with *Nārāśaṁsī* and *Raibhī*. The *Aitareya Āraṇyaka*¹² regards it as a form of verse with Ṛik, Kumbyā, while the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa*¹³ regards Ṛik as divine and *Gāthā*, human. Several *Gāthās* epitomizing the sacrifices of famous kings are preserved in the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa*,¹⁴ some of which are of the nature of Dānastutis¹⁵ or praises of gifts like Nārāśaṁsī verses as defined in the *Bṛihaddevatā*, iii, 154. Sāyaṇa¹⁶ identifies the two but refers to the other view that *Gāthās* are verses like that about "the great snake driven from the lake" [*Śatap. Br.*, xi, 5, 5, 8], while *Nārāśaṁsīs* (verses "telling about men") would be such as that regarding Janamejaya and his horses [ib., xi, 5, 5, 12].