I. Introductory 1 II. The Vedic Period 29 III. The Rigveda 40 IV. Poetry of the Rigveda 59 V. Philosophy of the Rigveda 116 VI. The Rigvedic Age 139 VII. The Later Vedas 171 VIII. The Brahmanas 202 IX. The Sutras 244 X. The Epics 277 XI. Kavya or Court Epic 318 XII. Lyric Poetry 335 XIII. The Drama 346 XIV. Fairy Tales and Fables 368 XV. Philosophy 385 XVI. Sanskrit Literature and the West 408 Appendix on Technical Literature--Law--History--Grammar--Poetics--Mathematics and Astronomy--Medicine--Arts 428 Bibliographical Notes 438 A HISTORY OF SANSKRIT LITERATURE CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY Since the Renaissance there has been no event of such world-wide significance in the history of culture as the discovery of Sanskrit literature in the latter part of the eighteenth century. After Alexander's invasion, the Greeks became to some extent acquainted with the learning of the Indians; the Arabs, in the Middle Ages, introduced the knowledge of Indian science to the West; a few European missionaries, from the sixteenth century onwards, were not only aware of the existence of, but also acquired some familiarity with, the ancient language of India; and Abraham Roger even translated the Sanskrit poet Bhartrihari into Dutch as early as 1651. Nevertheless, till about a hundred and twenty years ago there was no authentic information in Europe about the existence of Sanskrit literature, but only vague surmise, finding expression in stories about the wisdom of the Indians. The enthusiasm with which Voltaire in his Essai sur les Moeurs et l'Esprit des Nations greeted the lore of the Ezour Vedam, a work brought from India and introduced to his notice in the middle of the last century, was premature. For this work was later proved to be a forgery made in the seventeenth century by a Jesuit missionary. The scepticism justified by this fabrication, and indulged in when the discovery of the genuine Sanskrit literature was announced, survived far into the present century. Thus, Dugald Stewart, the philosopher, wrote an essay in which he endeavoured