Preface

The present Volume, as originally planned, was to
have included the post-vedic or Brahmanic period,
and to have borne thc title of Story of Vedic and
Brahmanic India. The overwhelming mass of
material, however, made it impossible to keep to the
original plan, except at the cost o lucidity, completeness, interesting detail, and all the qualities that
go ta make a book with any claim to popularity.
Nothing remained but to divide the subject-matter
into the two halves into which it naturally separates,
and leave the Story of Brahmanic India to follow later
an. It will ernbrace the results attained by the study
of the Atharva-Veda, theBrâhmanas, the Upanishads,
the Laws, and a synopsis at least of the great epics.
Z. A. R.