The scriptures revered by Hindus are enormously varied, and R. C. Zaehner's anthology has long been considered invaluable for its breadth and diversity. Now Dominic Goodall expands Zaehner's work with three fresh translations, including one work that appears for the first time in English. Spanning more than two thousand years, the range of selections in this book include arcane hymns of the ancient Aryans, prescriptions governing every aspect of the daily life of the orthodox, and sensual poetry.
Hindu Scriptures Edited with new translations by the author
About the Book
Reviews
"The Veda, the Upanishads, the Gita, the Dharma books, Tantra, and the Bhagavata Purana—these are the texts many Hindus would name as forming the core of their tradition. Here they are, at last, between two covers."—Jack Hawley, Director, South Asian Institute, Columbia UniversityTable of Contents
Note on the Editor
Introduction
Note on the Texts and Translations
Guide to Pronunciation
FROM THE RG-VEDA
III, lxii, The 'Gayatri'
I, xxiv To Varuna and Others
I, cliv To Visnu
II, i To Agni
II, xii To Indra
II, xxxii To Rudra
IX, lxxiv Soma Pressed in the Bowls
X, lxxxi To Visvakarman
X, lxxxii To Visvakarman
X, xc The Sacrifice of Primal Man
X, cxxi Prajapati (the 'Golden Embryo')
X, cxxix 'In the Beginning . . .'
FROM THE ATHARVA-VEDA
X, ii Primal Man
X, vii Skambha (the Support)
X, viii Skambha again
XI, iv To the Breath of Life
FROM THE UPANISHADS
Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
Chandogya Upanishad
Isa Upanishad
Katha Upanishad
Mandukya Upanishad
Svetasvatara Upanishad
THE BHAGAVAD-GITA
FROM THE YAJNAVALKYA-SMRTI
The Law Book of Yajnavalkya, Chapter 1 (Conduct)
The Law Bok of Yajnavalkya, Chapter 3 (Reparations)
FROM THE KIRANA-TANTRA
Chapters 1-7
FROM THE BHAGAVATA-PURANA
Book X, Chapters 29-33
Glossary
Suggestions for Further Reading
Acknowledgments
Note: Macrons, underdots, tildes, and other diacritical marks have been omitted in this web rendition of the table of contents. The book itself does include all necessary diacritical marks.