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The [[The Four Vedas (चतुर्वेदाः)|Four Vedas]] which are regarded as authoritative texts by the followers of [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]] are Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः), Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः), Samaveda (सामवेदः ) and [[Atharvaveda]] (अथर्ववेदः). The Yajurveda is again divided into two parts- The Shukla (शुक्लः) and the Krishna (कृष्णः). The Krishna or the Taittiriya (तैत्तिरीयः) is the older version and the Shukla or the वाजसनेयी ॥ Vajasaneyi is a later revelation to Maharshi Yajnavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्यः) from [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Surya (सूर्यः]]).<ref name=":022" /> The Rigveda is divided into twenty one sections, the Yajurveda into one hundred and nine sections, the Samaveda into one thousand sections and the Atharvaveda into fifty sections. In all, the [[Veda Vargeekarana (वेदवर्गीकरणम्)|Veda]] is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty shakhas (शाखाः | recensions).<ref name=":022" />   

The [[The Four Vedas (चतुर्वेदाः)|Four Vedas]] which are regarded as authoritative texts by the followers of [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]] are Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः), Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः), Samaveda (सामवेदः ) and [[Atharvaveda]] (अथर्ववेदः). The Yajurveda is again divided into two parts- The Shukla (शुक्लः) and the Krishna (कृष्णः). The Krishna or the Taittiriya (तैत्तिरीयः) is the older version and the Shukla or the वाजसनेयी ॥ Vajasaneyi is a later revelation to Maharshi Yajnavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्यः) from [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Surya (सूर्यः]]).<ref name=":022" /> The Rigveda is divided into twenty one sections, the Yajurveda into one hundred and nine sections, the Samaveda into one thousand sections and the Atharvaveda into fifty sections. In all, the [[Veda Vargeekarana (वेदवर्गीकरणम्)|Veda]] is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty shakhas (शाखाः | recensions).<ref name=":022" />   

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

The great Vedic commentator, of the thirteenth century, [[Sayanacharya (सायनाचार्यः)|सायणाचार्यः ॥ Sayanacharya]] has given a definition of the वेदः ॥ Veda. <blockquote>इष्टप्राप्ति - अनिष्टपरिहर्योर - अलौकिकम् - उपयम् यो ग्रन्थो वेदयति स वेदः ||{{Citation needed}}</blockquote><blockquote>iṣṭaprāpti - aniṣṭapariharyora - alaukikam - upayam yo grantho vedayati sa vedaḥ ||</blockquote>Meaning : The scripture, which describes the divine method for obtaining what is desirable and for giving up what is undesirable, is called वेदः ॥ Veda.  

The great Vedic commentator, of the thirteenth century, [[Sayanacharya (सायनाचार्यः)|सायणाचार्यः ॥ Sayanacharya]] has given a definition of the वेदः ॥ Veda. <blockquote>इष्टप्राप्ति - अनिष्टपरिहर्योर - अलौकिकम् - उपयम् यो ग्रन्थो वेदयति स वेदः ||{{Citation needed}}</blockquote><blockquote>iṣṭaprāpti - aniṣṭapariharyora - alaukikam - upayam yo grantho vedayati sa vedaḥ ||</blockquote>Meaning : The scripture, which describes the divine method for obtaining what is desirable and for giving up what is undesirable, is called वेदः ॥ Veda.  

वैदिकसंस्कृतम् ॥ [[Vedic Language (वैदिकभाषा)|Vedic samskrit language]] being ancient is difficult to understand without the knowledge of [[Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)|Vedangas (वेदाङ्गानि)]], especially Nirukta of Maharshi Yaska (महर्षिः यास्कः) and the grammar of Panini and Patanjali (पतञ्जलिः). Maharshi Yaska's Nirukta is special in that, it is not only a dictionary of Vedic words but also an explanatory text for different Vedic terms.

वैदिकसंस्कृतम् ॥ [[Vedic Language (वैदिकभाषा)|Vedic samskrit language]] being ancient is difficult to understand without the knowledge of [[Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)|Vedangas (वेदाङ्गानि)]], especially Nirukta of Maharshi Yaska (महर्षिः यास्कः) and the grammar of Panini and Patanjali (पतञ्जलिः). Maharshi Yaska's Nirukta is special in that, it is not only a dictionary of Vedic words but also an explanatory text for different Vedic terms.

With the availability of modern technological advancements, vast data on various topics is created, in different parts of the world, dispersed all over the globe. Thus, people generated a large number of genuine as well as falsely interpreted data about the Vedas of Bharatavarsha (in the form of blogs, educational sites, wikipedia for example).  

With the availability of modern technological advancements, vast data on various topics is created, in different parts of the world, dispersed all over the globe. Thus, people generated a large number of genuine as well as falsely interpreted data about the Vedas of Bharatavarsha (in the form of blogs, educational sites, wikipedia for example).  

Vedas  are  unlimited  in extent. What is stated in the Vedas is that they are verily endless - "ananta vai Vedah". It cannot be said that the Vedas in their entirety got revealed to the Rishis. Only a portion — a small portion of the  limitless  Vedas  —  became  revealed  to  them.  The  four  Vedas  and  a  thousand  and  odd  Veda saakhaas (or branches) of the Vedas are only a portion of what was made known to them as evident from the life of Bharadvaja rshi.  

Vedas  are  unlimited  in extent. What is stated in the Vedas is that they are verily endless - "ananta vai Vedah". It cannot be said that the Vedas in their entirety got revealed to the Rishis. Only a portion — a small portion of the  limitless  Vedas  —  became  revealed  to  them.  The  four  Vedas  and  a  thousand  and  odd  Veda saakhaas (or branches) of the Vedas are only a portion of what was made known to them as evident from the life of Bharadvaja rshi.  

<blockquote>अनन्ता वै वेदाः । (Tait. Brah. 3.10.11)<ref>Taittriya Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6 Kanda 3 Prapathaka 10])</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>अनन्ता वै वेदाः । (Tait. Brah. 3.10.11)<ref>Taittriya Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6 Kanda 3 Prapathaka 10])</ref></blockquote>

 

{{Box-round|title=Anantatva of Vedas - Bharadvaja Rshi's Story|content=Taittriya Brahmana recounts the anecdote of Bharadvaja Rshi who spent successive lifetimes to master Vedas and performed tapas to extend longevity. He had an immense quest for knowledge. He pleased Indra with his tapas and asked for another lifetime for learning Vedas. Indra appeared before him and showed him 3 mountains. Seeing the vast Vedarashi Bharadvaja Rshi was overwhelmed. Indra says, these mountains are the Vedarashis. They are endless and cannot be known in one lifetime. So seek the knowledge of Brahmavidya, which is the purpose of the Vedas. Indra picked one handful from each of the three mountains and declares that the knowledge acquired by Bharadvaja was equivalent to those 3 handfuls in all lifetimes he had. He was taught Agni Savitra Vidya by Indra. Thus Bharadvaja was cured of the pride of learning.}}

{{Box-round|title=Story of Bharadvaja Rshi|content=Taittriya Brahmana recounts the anecdote of Bharadvaja Rshi who spent three successive lifetimes to master Vedas. He pleased Indra with his tapas and asked for another lifetime for learning Vedas. Indra appeared before him and showed him 3 mountains.}}

=== सनातनत्वम् ॥ Sanatanatva ===

=== सनातनत्वम् ॥ Sanatanatva ===