Epic Civ 3 Flashcards
वेद
veda
Thought to be the oldest Sanskrit literature, the veda is a collection of hymns compiled into four sections. These are: ऋक्, सामन्, यजुस्, and अथर्व. Traditionally, the veda is considered to be the eternal, non-human knowledge that shapes the creation.
वेदाङ्ग
vedāṅga
‘The support of the veda.’ Six sciences which preserve the proper understanding and recitation of the veda.
Their subjects are शिक्षा (pronunciation) छन्दस् (metre) व्याकरण (grammar) निरुक्त (meaning of words) ज्योतिष (astronomy) and कल्प (performance of rituals).
श्रुति
śruti
‘What has been heard’ i.e., Vedic literature. This is considered to be of the highest authority.
व्यास
vyāsa
Vyāsa means ‘compiler.’ Traditionally, he is considered to be the sage who compiled the veda into sections and who also composed the Mahābhārata, Purāṇas and the Brahmasūtra.
आरण्यक
āraṇyaka
Forest discussions of the vedas’ inner meaning.
उपनिषद्
upaniṣad
Philosophical discussions of the identity of the ātman with the brahman.
वेदान्त
vedānta
The teaching of the Upaniṣads, literally the ‘finally part’ or goal of the veda.
स्मृति
smṛti
‘What has been remembered’. The teachings of great sages. Secondary in authority to the śruti.
व्याकरण
vyākaraṇa
Science of grammar. One of the vedāṅgas.
सूत्र
sūtra
A very terse statement which is part of a complete system explaining a science.
पाणिनि
pāṅini
Author of the 4000 or so sūtras comprising the vyākaraṇa. In this science all words are shown to derive from a few simple dhātus (seed forms) and an even simpler system of pratyayas (endings).
धातु
dhātu
Seed of a word. For example, ‘vid’ is the dhātu of veda.
प्रत्यय
pratyaya
The endings of words.
योगसूत्राणि
yogasūtrāṇi
A text outlining the principles of yoga. Attributed to Patañjali.
मनुस्मृति
manusmṛti
Also called dharmaśāstra. The Laws of Manu sets out the laws of human life according to the universal system of dharma.
शास्त्र
śāstra
Scripture, methodology, teaching
रामायाण
rāmāyaṇa
The story of Rāma and his battles with the demons, by the sage Vālmīki.
माहाभारत
mahābhārata
The world’s longest epic, by Vyāsa, narrating the story of the battle between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas and the events leading to it.
मन्त्र
mantra
A special magic word or verse with particular powers.
भगवद्गीता
bhagavad gītā
The ‘Song of the Lord,’ found in the माहाभारत, records the spiritual discourse between Kṛṣṇa and the warrior Arjuna.
पुराण
purāṇa
‘The ancient teachings.’ Eighteen works traditionally attributed to Vyāsa that deal with creation and dissolution, kings, sages, incarnations etc.
श्रीमद्भगवतम्
śrīmadbhagavatam
The most famous Purāṇa, dealing especially with the life and exploits of Kṛṣṇa.
