The Laws of Manu - Or Manava Dharma-Sástra, Abridged English Translation #262310

Yajur Veda. — The Rig Veda denotes the Veda of hymns of praise. The santa-veda contains extracts from the rig-veda, arranged for the purpose of being chanted at sacrifices. The Atharra Veda is of later origin than the others. It is sometimes called the Gaming Veda, because it contains so many mantras supposed to be able to cause the destruction of enemies. The Y ajur Veda will be noticed rather more at length from its close connection with the dharma-sastras. The name comes from yaj, 'sacrifice.' It contains the formulas and verses to be muttered by the priests and their assistants who had chiefly to prepare the sacrificial ground, to dress the altar, slay the victims, and pour out the libations. The first sentences in one of the two divisions were to be uttered by the priest as he cut from a particular tree a switch with which to drive away the calves from the cows whose milk was to furnish the material of the offering.