Page:Madras journal of literature and science 3rd series 1, July 1864.djvu/85

Rh them are written in the interest of sects and are consequently of comparatively modern origin. But though this he the case, and though we already possess good editions and translations of the old Upanishads, the value of the Madras collection still remains very great. It will furnish materials for the further restitution of the texts and commentaries of the edited Upanishads and most important contributions to the history of the religious development of India.

Among the other works forming part of the Veda we meet with the two unknown names of Bráhmanas, Ashta and Chardi. But we do not learn from the Catalogues to which Veda and çâkhâ they belong.

The number of books belonging to the Vedângas seems to be comparatively small. There are however some interesting works. The copy of a Yajurveda-prâtiçâkhya, whether it belong to the White or Black portion of this Veda, will be a welcome addition to the exceedingly scanty stock of compositions of this class. Two other books, the Çixâchandâmsi(?) and the Udochhadara(?) vyâkhyâna likewise seem to refer to Vedic grammar and may furnish new information on this difficult subject.

Amongst the Smârtasûtras, the Âpastambha-gṛihya and dharma deserve to be noticed, as MSS. of the former have not been found elsewhere, and only very few copies of the latter are known.

In post-Vedic literature nearly all branches, with the exception of the Sâṅkhya and Yoga philosophy, are well represented. There are good collections of MSS. of the Epic poems, the Kâvyas, the Purâṇas, Dharmaçâstras, tales and fables, as well of the works on science and Mîmâṁsâ and Nyâya philosophy.