Changes

This definition describes the form of the वेदः ॥ Veda because it could be divided mainly into these two great divisions--the मन्त्राः ॥ Mantras and the ब्राह्मणानि ॥ Brahmanas. Accordingly, Mantra part is the main part of the Veda and whatever is not Mantra is Brahmana. Here, it is interesting to know that many ancient definitions of Veda, showing its significance, form  or contents are given in ancient Indian texts. Generally speaking, the word Veda signifies highest, sacred, eternal and divine knowledge as well as the texts embodying that knowledge.<ref name=":1">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​.</ref>

This definition describes the form of the वेदः ॥ Veda because it could be divided mainly into these two great divisions--the मन्त्राः ॥ Mantras and the ब्राह्मणानि ॥ Brahmanas. Accordingly, Mantra part is the main part of the Veda and whatever is not Mantra is Brahmana. Here, it is interesting to know that many ancient definitions of Veda, showing its significance, form  or contents are given in ancient Indian texts. Generally speaking, the word Veda signifies highest, sacred, eternal and divine knowledge as well as the texts embodying that knowledge.<ref name=":1">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​.</ref>

== वैदिकसाहित्यं लौकिकसाहित्यं च ॥ Vaidika and Laukika Sahitya ==

== वैदिकसाहित्यं लौकिकसाहित्यं च ॥ Vaidika and Laukika Sahitya ==

Classical samskrit works (लौकिकसाहित्यम्  | laukika sahitya), such as the mahakavyas ( महाकाव्यानि | the five great classic works on poetic form) and gadya kavyas (गद्यकाव्यानि | prose works) by various poets, are significantly different from the Vedic texts and are available in great volumes. Vedic texts and their usage of Samskrit language are distinct from the classical samskrit texts. Vedic Samskrit is more ancient than classical Samskrit. Long before [[Panini|Panini (पाणिनिः)]] systematized classical Samskrit grammar, [[Nirukta]] (निरुक्तम् ) was used to interpret Vedic Samskrit words.  

Classical samskrit works (लौकिकसाहित्यम्  | laukika sahitya), such as the mahakavyas ( महाकाव्यानि | the five great classic works on poetic form) and gadya kavyas (गद्यकाव्यानि | prose works) by various poets, are significantly different from the Vedic texts and are available in great volumes. Vedic texts and their usage of Samskrit language are distinct from the classical samskrit texts. Vedic Samskrit is more ancient than classical Samskrit. Long before Panini (पाणिनिः) systematized classical Samskrit grammar, [[Nirukta]] (निरुक्तम् ) was used to interpret Vedic Samskrit words.  

Vedas are also called Shruti (श्रुतिः | what is heard) distinguishing them from other religious texts, which are called Smṛiti (स्मृतिः | what is remembered). The Vedas are revelations of ancient sages after intense meditation, passed on to thousands of future generations by shabda (शब्दः | sound) or transmitted verbally thus, carefully preserved since ancient times. Vedic texts have been written and preserved in much later ages.  

Vedas are also called Shruti (श्रुतिः | what is heard) distinguishing them from other religious texts, which are called Smṛiti (स्मृतिः | what is remembered). The Vedas are revelations of ancient sages after intense meditation, passed on to thousands of future generations by shabda (शब्दः | sound) or transmitted verbally thus, carefully preserved since ancient times. Vedic texts have been written and preserved in much later ages.  

The samskrit term veda as a common noun means "knowledge", but can also be used to refer to fields of study unrelated to spiritual knowledge, e.g. in अगद-वेद || agada-veda (medical science), सस्य-वेद || sasya-veda (science of agriculture) or सर्प-वेद || sarpa-veda (science of snakes), already found in the early Upanishads.

The samskrit term veda as a common noun means "knowledge", but can also be used to refer to fields of study unrelated to spiritual knowledge, e.g. in अगद-वेद || agada-veda (medical science), सस्य-वेद || sasya-veda (science of agriculture) or सर्प-वेद || sarpa-veda (science of snakes), already found in the early Upanishads.

== वेदोत्पत्तिः || Vedotpatti ==

== वेदोत्पत्तिः || Vedotpatti ==

Although the Vedas are said to be सनातनः ॥ Sanatana (eternal), however their origin is credited to ब्रह्मा ॥ [[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|Brahma]]. According to शब्दकल्पद्रुमः ॥ Shabdakalpadruma,  <blockquote>ब्रह्ममुखनिर्गतधर्म्मज्ञापकशास्त्रम् इति पुराणम् |</blockquote><blockquote>brahmamukhanirgatadharmmajñāpakaśāstram iti purāṇam |</blockquote>Meaning : पुराण-s || [[Puranas]] proclaim that vedas are शास्त्र-s || shastras revealed from ब्रह्मा ॥ Brahma’s mouth that remind of one's धर्मः ॥ Dharma.

Although the Vedas are said to be सनातनः ॥ Sanatana (eternal), however their origin is credited to ब्रह्मा ॥ [[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|Brahma]]. According to शब्दकल्पद्रुमः ॥ Shabdakalpadruma,  <blockquote>ब्रह्ममुखनिर्गतधर्म्मज्ञापकशास्त्रम् इति पुराणम् |</blockquote><blockquote>brahmamukhanirgatadharmmajñāpakaśāstram iti purāṇam |</blockquote>Meaning : पुराण-s || [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|Puranas]] proclaim that vedas are शास्त्र-s || shastras revealed from ब्रह्मा ॥ Brahma’s mouth that remind of one's धर्मः ॥ Dharma.

Regarding the origin of Vedas, शब्दकल्पद्रुमः ॥ Shabdakalpadruma further states that according to the पुराणानि ॥ Puranas and मार्कण्डेय-महर्षिः ॥ Markandeya rishi - once ब्रह्मा ॥ Brahma meditated on how to create and the Vedas then took birth out of Brahma's four faces with 21 शाखाः || shakas of ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, 100 शाखाः ॥ shakhas of यजुर्वेदः ॥ Yajurveda, 1000 शाखाः ॥ shakhas of सामवेदः ॥ Samaveda and 9 शाखाः ॥ shakhas of अथर्ववेदः ॥ Atharvaveda as given below.<blockquote>वेदस्य प्रादुर्भावो यथा कदाचित्कथं सृक्ष्यामीति ध्यायतो ब्रह्मणो मुखचतुष्टयेभ्यश्चत्वारो वेदाः प्रादुरासन् यथा </blockquote><blockquote>एकविंशतिशाखात्मक - ऋक् १ शतशाखात्मक - यजुः २ सहस्रशाखामयसाम ३ नवशाखामयाथर्व्व ४ इति पुराणम् अपि च श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच । </blockquote><blockquote>vedasya prādurbhāvo yathā kadācitkathaṃ sṛkṣyāmīti dhyāyato brahmaṇo mukhacatuṣṭayebhyaścatvāro vedāḥ prādurāsan yathā </blockquote><blockquote>ekaviṃśatiśākhātmaka - ṛk 1 śataśākhātmaka - yajuḥ 2 sahasraśākhāmayasāma 3 navaśākhāmayātharvva 4 iti purāṇam api ca śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca ।</blockquote>In the महाभारतम् ॥ [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]]  also the creation of Vedas is credited to ब्रह्मा ॥ Brahma. The Vedic hymns themselves assert that they were skillfully created by ऋषि-s || Rishis (seers), after inspired creativity, just as a carpenter builds a chariot. The वेदाः ॥ Vedas (shruti) are different from other texts based on Vedas such as श्रौतसूत्रम् || Shrauta Sutra and गृह्यसूत्रम् || GrhyaSutra, which are smriti texts.<ref name=":03">Acharya Dharma Deva Vidya Martanda. (2002). ''[https://archive.org/details/RigvedaWww.aryamantavya.in The Rigveda, with Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati's commentary, English translation, Vol I]''. New Delhi:Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha.</ref><blockquote>तेभ्यस्तप्तेभ्यस्त्रयो वेदा अजायन्त । अग्नेर्ऋग्वेदो वायोर्यजुर्वेदः सूर्यात् सामवेदः । (Shat. Brah. 11.5) as given by Pt. Sri Jayadevaji Sharma<ref name=":2">Sharma, Pt Sri Jayadevaji (2008) ''Rigveda Samhita Bhashabhashya Volume 1'' Ajmer: Arya Sahitya Mandal Ltd</ref><ref>Singh, Ahilya. (2010) PhD Thesis Title: [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan prarambh se vaidik kaal tak]. V. B. S. Purvanchal University.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tebhyastaptebhyastrayo vedā ajāyanta । agnerṛgvedo vāyoryajurvedaḥ sūryāt sāmavedaḥ । (Shat. Brah. 11.5) as given by Pt. Sri Jayadevaji Sharma</blockquote><blockquote>तेभ्योऽभितप्तेभ्यस्त्रयो वेदा अजायन्त ऋग्वेद एवाग्नेरजायत यजुर्वेदो वायोः सामवेद आदित्यात् (Aite. Brah. 5.32)<ref>Aitareya Brahamana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%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%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A5%AB_(%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%AE_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE) Panchaka 5])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tebhyo'bhitaptebhyastrayo vedā ajāyanta ṛgveda evāgnerajāyata yajurvedo vāyoḥ sāmaveda ādityāt (Aite. Brah. 5.32)</blockquote><blockquote>अग्निवायुरविभ्यस्तु त्रयं ब्रह्म सनातनम् । दुदोह यज्ञसिद्ध्यर्थं ऋग्यजुःसामलक्षणम् । । १.२३ । ।(Manu. Smri. 1.23)<ref>Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>agnivāyuravibhyastu trayaṃ brahma sanātanam । dudoha yajñasiddhyarthaṃ ṛgyajuḥsāmalakṣaṇam । । 1.23 । ।(Manu. Smri. 1.23)</blockquote>As seen, all the above three mantras from different sources speak of the origin of Rigveda from [[Agni (आग्निः)|Agni]] (अग्निः), Yajurveda from [[Vayu]] (वायुः) and Samaveda from [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Surya]] (सूर्यः also called रविः।Ravi and आदित्यः । Aditya). Brahmanas (ब्राह्मण texts) ascribe the origin of Vedas from the Creator of the Universe, Brahma (ब्रह्मा) or Prajapati (प्रजापतिः).

Regarding the origin of Vedas, शब्दकल्पद्रुमः ॥ Shabdakalpadruma further states that according to the पुराणानि ॥ Puranas and मार्कण्डेय-महर्षिः ॥ Markandeya rishi - once ब्रह्मा ॥ Brahma meditated on how to create and the Vedas then took birth out of Brahma's four faces with 21 शाखाः || shakas of ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, 100 शाखाः ॥ shakhas of यजुर्वेदः ॥ Yajurveda, 1000 शाखाः ॥ shakhas of सामवेदः ॥ Samaveda and 9 शाखाः ॥ shakhas of अथर्ववेदः ॥ Atharvaveda as given below.<blockquote>वेदस्य प्रादुर्भावो यथा कदाचित्कथं सृक्ष्यामीति ध्यायतो ब्रह्मणो मुखचतुष्टयेभ्यश्चत्वारो वेदाः प्रादुरासन् यथा </blockquote><blockquote>एकविंशतिशाखात्मक - ऋक् १ शतशाखात्मक - यजुः २ सहस्रशाखामयसाम ३ नवशाखामयाथर्व्व ४ इति पुराणम् अपि च श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच । </blockquote><blockquote>vedasya prādurbhāvo yathā kadācitkathaṃ sṛkṣyāmīti dhyāyato brahmaṇo mukhacatuṣṭayebhyaścatvāro vedāḥ prādurāsan yathā </blockquote><blockquote>ekaviṃśatiśākhātmaka - ṛk 1 śataśākhātmaka - yajuḥ 2 sahasraśākhāmayasāma 3 navaśākhāmayātharvva 4 iti purāṇam api ca śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca ।</blockquote>In the महाभारतम् ॥ [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]]  also the creation of Vedas is credited to ब्रह्मा ॥ Brahma. The Vedic hymns themselves assert that they were skillfully created by ऋषि-s || Rishis (seers), after inspired creativity, just as a carpenter builds a chariot. The वेदाः ॥ Vedas (shruti) are different from other texts based on Vedas such as श्रौतसूत्रम् || Shrauta Sutra and गृह्यसूत्रम् || GrhyaSutra, which are smriti texts.<ref name=":03">Acharya Dharma Deva Vidya Martanda. (2002). ''[https://archive.org/details/RigvedaWww.aryamantavya.in The Rigveda, with Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati's commentary, English translation, Vol I]''. New Delhi:Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha.</ref><blockquote>तेभ्यस्तप्तेभ्यस्त्रयो वेदा अजायन्त । अग्नेर्ऋग्वेदो वायोर्यजुर्वेदः सूर्यात् सामवेदः । (Shat. Brah. 11.5) as given by Pt. Sri Jayadevaji Sharma<ref name=":2">Sharma, Pt Sri Jayadevaji (2008) ''Rigveda Samhita Bhashabhashya Volume 1'' Ajmer: Arya Sahitya Mandal Ltd</ref><ref>Singh, Ahilya. (2010) PhD Thesis Title: [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan prarambh se vaidik kaal tak]. V. B. S. Purvanchal University.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tebhyastaptebhyastrayo vedā ajāyanta । agnerṛgvedo vāyoryajurvedaḥ sūryāt sāmavedaḥ । (Shat. Brah. 11.5) as given by Pt. Sri Jayadevaji Sharma</blockquote><blockquote>तेभ्योऽभितप्तेभ्यस्त्रयो वेदा अजायन्त ऋग्वेद एवाग्नेरजायत यजुर्वेदो वायोः सामवेद आदित्यात् (Aite. Brah. 5.32)<ref>Aitareya Brahamana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%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%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A5%AB_(%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%AE_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE) Panchaka 5])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tebhyo'bhitaptebhyastrayo vedā ajāyanta ṛgveda evāgnerajāyata yajurvedo vāyoḥ sāmaveda ādityāt (Aite. Brah. 5.32)</blockquote><blockquote>अग्निवायुरविभ्यस्तु त्रयं ब्रह्म सनातनम् । दुदोह यज्ञसिद्ध्यर्थं ऋग्यजुःसामलक्षणम् । । १.२३ । ।(Manu. Smri. 1.23)<ref>Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>agnivāyuravibhyastu trayaṃ brahma sanātanam । dudoha yajñasiddhyarthaṃ ṛgyajuḥsāmalakṣaṇam । । 1.23 । ।(Manu. Smri. 1.23)</blockquote>As seen, all the above three mantras from different sources speak of the origin of Rigveda from [[Agni (आग्निः)|Agni]] (अग्निः), Yajurveda from [[Vayu]] (वायुः) and Samaveda from [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Surya]] (सूर्यः also called रविः।Ravi and आदित्यः । Aditya). Brahmanas (ब्राह्मण texts) ascribe the origin of Vedas from the Creator of the Universe, Brahma (ब्रह्मा) or Prajapati (प्रजापतिः).

=== सनातनत्वम् ॥ Sanatanatva ===

=== सनातनत्वम् ॥ Sanatanatva ===

In the opinion of मनुः ॥ [[Manu (मनुः)|Manu]], Veda is the eternal eye सनातनचक्षुः ॥ Sanatana Chakshu of पितृ || Pitru, देवः || Deva, and मनुष्यः || Manushya. Veda is beyond the sphere of human power to create (अशक्यम् || Ashakya) and beyond the human comprehension too (अप्रमेयम् || Aprameya).<ref name=":122">Patel, Gautam. (1999). ''Traditional Vedic Interpretations.'' New Delhi : Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan</ref><blockquote>पितृदेवमनुष्याणां वेदश्चक्षुः सनातनम् । अशक्यं चाप्रमेयं च वेदशास्त्रं इति स्थितिः । । १२.९४ (Manu. Smri. 12.94)<ref name=":222">Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>pitṛdevamanuṣyāṇāṃ vedaścakṣuḥ sanātanam । aśakyaṃ cāprameyaṃ ca vedaśāstraṃ iti sthitiḥ । । 12.94 (Manu. Smri. 12.94)</blockquote>

In the opinion of मनुः ॥ Manu, Veda is the eternal eye सनातनचक्षुः ॥ Sanatana Chakshu of पितृ || Pitru, देवः || Deva, and मनुष्यः || Manushya. Veda is beyond the sphere of human power to create (अशक्यम् || Ashakya) and beyond the human comprehension too (अप्रमेयम् || Aprameya).<ref name=":122">Patel, Gautam. (1999). ''Traditional Vedic Interpretations.'' New Delhi : Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan</ref><blockquote>पितृदेवमनुष्याणां वेदश्चक्षुः सनातनम् । अशक्यं चाप्रमेयं च वेदशास्त्रं इति स्थितिः । । १२.९४ (Manu. Smri. 12.94)<ref name=":222">Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>pitṛdevamanuṣyāṇāṃ vedaścakṣuḥ sanātanam । aśakyaṃ cāprameyaṃ ca vedaśāstraṃ iti sthitiḥ । । 12.94 (Manu. Smri. 12.94)</blockquote>

=== धर्ममूलकत्वम् ॥ Source of Dharma ===

=== धर्ममूलकत्वम् ॥ Source of Dharma ===