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Whether Krishna or Shukla, both the shakhas of Yajurveda deal primarily with the कर्मकाण्डः ॥ karmakanda and are also called यज्ञकाण्डः ॥ yajnakanda<ref name=":02222" />. All the shakha texts deal with detailed descriptions of श्रौतयज्ञाः ॥ Shrauta yajnas like राजसूयः ॥ [[Rajasuya]], वाजपेयः ॥ Vajapeya, सोमयागः ॥ Somayaga etc. Krishna Yajurveda is considered older than the Shukla Yajurveda.<ref name=":12222" />

Whether Krishna or Shukla, both the shakhas of Yajurveda deal primarily with the कर्मकाण्डः ॥ karmakanda and are also called यज्ञकाण्डः ॥ yajnakanda<ref name=":02222" />. All the shakha texts deal with detailed descriptions of श्रौतयज्ञाः ॥ Shrauta yajnas like राजसूयः ॥ [[Rajasuya]], वाजपेयः ॥ Vajapeya, सोमयागः ॥ Somayaga etc. Krishna Yajurveda is considered older than the Shukla Yajurveda.<ref name=":12222" />

It may be noted that while in Rigveda the text is organized according to rishis as mantra drastas, in Yajurveda the text is given according to the yajnas. It is a compilation of ritual offering formulas that were said by a priest while a यजमानः ॥ yajamana performed ritual actions such as those before the yajna fire. Yajurveda samhita includes mantras that are distinct yet borrow and build upon the foundation of verses in Rigveda. Unlike the सामवेदः ॥ Samaveda which is almost entirely based on Rigveda mantras and structured as songs, the Yajurveda samhitas are in prose and linguistically, they are different from other Vedic texts. Yajurveda text is not just related to rituals or sacrifice, it includes the largest collection of primary Upanishads, influential to various schools of Hindu philosophy.

It may be noted that while in Rigveda the text is organized according to rishis as mantra drastas, in Yajurveda the text is given according to the yajnas. It is a compilation of ritual offering formulas that were said by a priest while a यजमानः ॥ yajamana performed ritual actions such as those before the yajna fire. Yajurveda samhita includes mantras that are distinct yet borrow and build upon the foundation of verses in Rigveda. Unlike the सामवेदः ॥ Samaveda which is almost entirely based on Rigveda mantras and structured as songs, the Yajurveda samhitas are in prose and linguistically, they are different from other Vedic texts. Yajurveda text is not just related to rituals or yajna, it includes the largest collection of primary Upanishads, influential to various schools of Hindu philosophy.

==सामवेदः || Samaveda==

==सामवेदः || Samaveda==

===व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology===

===व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology===

Kauthuma (कौथुम) is the widely followed shakha, mainly by Nagara brahmins of Gujarat, while Ranayaniya is seen among the people of Maharashtra and Jaiminiya shakha is seen in Tamilnadu.

Kauthuma (कौथुम) is the widely followed shakha, mainly by Nagara brahmins of Gujarat, while Ranayaniya is seen among the people of Maharashtra and Jaiminiya shakha is seen in Tamilnadu.

===विषयम् || Vishayam (Content)===

===विषयम् || Vishayam (Content)===

The Samaveda is compiled exclusively for ritual application, for its verses are all meant to be chanted at the ceremonies of the Soma-sacrifice and procedures derived from it. The Samaveda is, therefore, specially intended for the ''Udgatr'' priest.

The Samaveda is compiled exclusively for ritual application, for its verses are all meant to be chanted at the ceremonies of the Soma-yajna and procedures derived from it. The Samaveda is, therefore, specially intended for the ''Udgatr'' priest.

The special virtue of Samaveda is that although its mantras are from the Rigveda, they are set to music which is greatly conductive to the spiritual evolution of a human being and to qualify oneself for receiving the grace of the devatas.

The special virtue of Samaveda is that although its mantras are from the Rigveda, they are set to music which is greatly conductive to the spiritual evolution of a human being and to qualify oneself for receiving the grace of the devatas.

This portion is mainly meant for [[Brahmacharya (walking on the path of the divine)|ब्रह्मचारी-s || Brahmacharis]], those who are in the first stage of their lives.

This portion is mainly meant for [[Brahmacharya (walking on the path of the divine)|ब्रह्मचारी-s || Brahmacharis]], those who are in the first stage of their lives.

===ब्राह्मणानि || Brahmanas===

===ब्राह्मणानि || Brahmanas===

Apastamba defines [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana (ब्राह्मण)]] as<blockquote>‘कर्मचोदना ब्राह्मणानि || karmacodanā brāhmaṇāni’ (Apas. Shrau. Sutr. 34 and 35)</blockquote>Meaning: Brahmanas are injunctions for the performance of sacrificial rites.

Apastamba defines [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana (ब्राह्मण)]] as<blockquote>‘कर्मचोदना ब्राह्मणानि || karmacodanā brāhmaṇāni’ (Apas. Shrau. Sutr. 34 and 35)</blockquote>Meaning: Brahmanas are injunctions for the performance of yajnika rites.

Some believe that what are not mantras are brahmanas (जैमिनीयपूर्वमीमांसा ॥ Jaimineeya Purvamimamsa 2.1.33)

Some believe that what are not mantras are brahmanas (जैमिनीयपूर्वमीमांसा ॥ Jaimineeya Purvamimamsa 2.1.33)

Each of the Brahmanas is associated with one of the Samhitas or its recensions. The Brahmanas may either form separate texts or can be partly integrated into the text of the Samhitas. They may also include the आरण्यक-s || Aranyakas and उपनिषद्-s || Upanishads. The substance of the Brahmana text varies with each Veda.

Each of the Brahmanas is associated with one of the Samhitas or its recensions. The Brahmanas may either form separate texts or can be partly integrated into the text of the Samhitas. They may also include the आरण्यक-s || Aranyakas and उपनिषद्-s || Upanishads. The substance of the Brahmana text varies with each Veda.

This portion of a Veda guides people in the performance of Vedic Karmas or sacrificial rituals; they are the prose explanations of the method of using the mantras in the Yajnas and other rituals. Brahmana is suitable for the गृहस्थ-s || Grhasthas (the householders), those belonging to the second stage in life.

This portion of a Veda guides people in the performance of Vedic Karmas or yajnika rituals; they are the prose explanations of the method of using the mantras in the Yajnas and other rituals. Brahmana is suitable for the गृहस्थ-s || Grhasthas (the householders), those belonging to the second stage in life.

===आरण्यकानि || Aranyakas===

===आरण्यकानि || Aranyakas===

आरण्यक-s || Aranyakas, "wilderness texts" or "forest treatisies" :<blockquote>अरण्येऽधीयूरान् || araṇye'dhīyūrān ||</blockquote>Meaning: Texts to be studied in forests

आरण्यक-s || Aranyakas, "wilderness texts" or "forest treatisies" :<blockquote>अरण्येऽधीयूरान् || araṇye'dhīyūrān ||</blockquote>Meaning: Texts to be studied in forests

This text is unavailable (as for अथर्वणवेदः ॥ Atharvanaveda) or found as the last part of the ब्रामणानि ॥ Brahmanas, or are completely separated from the ब्राह्मणानि ॥ Brahmanas. For example, the last काण्ड ॥ kanda of शतपथ-ब्राह्मणम् ॥ Shatapata Brahmana is आरण्यकम् ॥ Aranyaka for शुक्लयजुर्वेदः ॥ Shukla Yajurveda, whereas in कृष्णयजुर्वेदः ॥ Krishna Yajurveda, the तैत्तिरीय-ब्राह्मणम् ॥ Taittiriya Brahmana and आरण्यकम् ॥ Aranyaka are completely separate.<ref name=":222" />

This text is unavailable (as for अथर्वणवेदः ॥ Atharvanaveda) or found as the last part of the ब्रामणानि ॥ Brahmanas, or are completely separated from the ब्राह्मणानि ॥ Brahmanas. For example, the last काण्ड ॥ kanda of शतपथ-ब्राह्मणम् ॥ Shatapata Brahmana is आरण्यकम् ॥ Aranyaka for शुक्लयजुर्वेदः ॥ Shukla Yajurveda, whereas in कृष्णयजुर्वेदः ॥ Krishna Yajurveda, the तैत्तिरीय-ब्राह्मणम् ॥ Taittiriya Brahmana and आरण्यकम् ॥ Aranyaka are completely separate.<ref name=":222" />

आरण्यक-s || Aranyakas, however, neither are homogeneous in content nor in structure. They are a combination of instructions and ideas, and some include chapters of उपनिषद्-s || Upanishads within them. Two theories have been proposed on the origin of the word आरण्यक ॥ Aranyaka. One theory holds that these texts were meant to be studied in a forest while the other holds that the name came from these being the manuals of allegorical interpretation of sacrifices, for those in वानप्रस्थः || Vanaprastha (retired, forest-dwelling) stage of their life, according to the historic age-based आश्रम ॥ Ashrama system of human life.

आरण्यक-s || Aranyakas, however, neither are homogeneous in content nor in structure. They are a combination of instructions and ideas, and some include chapters of उपनिषद्-s || Upanishads within them. Two theories have been proposed on the origin of the word आरण्यक ॥ Aranyaka. One theory holds that these texts were meant to be studied in a forest while the other holds that the name came from these being the manuals of allegorical interpretation of yajnika, for those in वानप्रस्थः || Vanaprastha (retired, forest-dwelling) stage of their life, according to the historic age-based आश्रम ॥ Ashrama system of human life.

The Aranyaka portion is addressed to the people of that category offering a substitute for rituals. They teach methods of meditation based upon symbolical interpretations of sacrificial rites. It is a process of performing यज्ञ-s || Yajnas and sacrifices at the mental level. For example: बृहदारण्यक-उपनिषद् ॥ Brhadaranyaka Upanishad starts with such analytical mental performance of अश्वमेधयज्ञः ॥ Ashwamedha Yajna. The Aranyakas are intended for the Vanaprasthas or people who prepare themselves for the last stage in life i.e. सन्यासः ॥ Sanyasa. Aranyakas form the transition link between the ritual of the Brahmanas and the philosophy of the Upanishads.

The Aranyaka portion is addressed to the people of that category offering a substitute for rituals. They teach methods of meditation based upon symbolical interpretations of yajnika rites. It is a process of performing यज्ञ-s || Yajnas and sacrifices at the mental level. For example: बृहदारण्यक-उपनिषद् ॥ Brhadaranyaka Upanishad starts with such analytical mental performance of अश्वमेधयज्ञः ॥ Ashwamedha Yajna. The Aranyakas are intended for the Vanaprasthas or people who prepare themselves for the last stage in life i.e. सन्यासः ॥ Sanyasa. Aranyakas form the transition link between the ritual of the Brahmanas and the philosophy of the Upanishads.

===उपनिषदः || Upanishads===

===उपनिषदः || Upanishads===

The number of works that go by the name Upanishad and available today in print exceeds 200. The मुक्तिकोपनिषद् ॥ Muktikopanishad gives a list of 108 Upanishads. However, the principal Upanishads are accepted to be those which श्रीआदिशङ्कराचार्यः ॥ Sri Adi Shankaracharya chose to comment upon.

The number of works that go by the name Upanishad and available today in print exceeds 200. The मुक्तिकोपनिषद् ॥ Muktikopanishad gives a list of 108 Upanishads. However, the principal Upanishads are accepted to be those which श्रीआदिशङ्कराचार्यः ॥ Sri Adi Shankaracharya chose to comment upon.