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

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

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

The great Vedic commentator, of the thirteenth century, [[Sayanacharya (सायनाचार्यः)|Sayana]] has given a definition of the Veda <blockquote>इष्टप्राप्ति - अनिष्टपरिहर्योर - अलौकिकम् - उपयम् यो ग्रन्थो वेदयति स वेदः ||</blockquote>Meaning : The  scripture,  which  describes  the  divine  method  for obtaining what is desirable and for giving up what is undesirable, is called 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 ||</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.  

This definition presents the purpose of the Veda. According to another definition, as per the sage [[Apastamba|अपस्तम्ब || Apastamba]]<blockquote>मन्त्र - ब्रह्मन्योर् - वेदनामधेयम् || </blockquote>Meaning : 'The Veda is the name given to the Mantras and the Brahmanas’.  

This definition presents the purpose of the वेदः ॥ Veda. According to another definition, as per the sage अपस्तम्बः || Apastamba,<blockquote>मन्त्र - ब्रह्मन्योर् - वेदनामधेयम् || </blockquote><blockquote>mantra - brahmanyor - vedanāmadheyam ||</blockquote>Meaning : The वेदः ॥ Veda is the name given to the मन्त्राः ॥ Mantras and the ब्राह्मणानि ॥ Brahmanas.  

This definition describes the form of the 'Veda' because it could be divided mainly into these two great divisions--the Mantras and the Brahmanas. Accordingly, मन्त्र || Mantra part is the main part of the Veda and whatever is not Mantra is ब्राह्मण || 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 वेद || 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 Loukika Sahitya ==

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

Classical samskrit works (loukika sahityam), such as the महाकाव्य || mahakavyas and गद्य काव्य || gadya kavyas by different poets, are different from the Vedic texts and are available in great volumes. These texts and the usage of Samskrit language in them are also different from the Vedic texts. Vedic Samskrit is more ancient than classical Samskrit. Long before [[Panini]] systematized classical Samskrit grammar, निरुक्तम् || Niruktam was used to interpret Vedic Samskrit words.  

Classical samskrit works (loukika sahityam), such as the महाकाव्य || mahakavyas and गद्य काव्य || gadya kavyas by different poets, are different from the Vedic texts and are available in great volumes. These texts and the usage of Samskrit language in them are also different from the Vedic texts. Vedic Samskrit is more ancient than classical Samskrit. Long before [[Panini]] systematized classical Samskrit grammar, निरुक्तम् || Niruktam was used to interpret Vedic Samskrit words.