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clarified butter in abundance." The same authorities declare that the Veda consists of two parts, Mantra and Brahmana; and that the only unexceptionable definition which can be given of the latter is, that all that portion of the Veda which is not Mantra is Bráhmana*. In exact conformity to these original authorities is the following statement of Mr. Colebrooke. "Each Veda consists of two parts, denominated the Mantras and the Brahmanas, or prayers and precepts. The complete collection of the hymns, prayers, and invocations belonging to one Veda is entitled its Sanhitá. Every other portion of Indian Scripture is included under the general head of divinity-Bráhmana. This comprises precepts which inculcate religious duties, maxims which explain those precepts, and arguments which relate to theology* To these may be added narratives which illustrate precepts and practices, or explain incidents connected with the origin or objects of the Mantras, such as that of Sunaksepha, which has been cited.
ON HUMAN SACRIFICES IN THE
Notwithstanding the concurrence of these authorities and the generally prevalent opinion of the Hindus, it requires but a cursory inspection of such a work as the Aitareya Brahmana to deny the accuracy of the attribution. This Brahmana is not an integral part of the Rig-veda, and never could have been so. It is a work of a totally different era, and a totally different
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[ib. p. 22. History of Ancient Sanskrit Lit. 342 ff.] [Essays, p. 7. Weber, Ind. Stud., I, 3. 14. Mánava-kalpasútra, ed. Th. Goldstücker, Introduction, p. 70 fr.]
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