Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/49

The Veda 33 original composers. There are also many new verses in the Yajur-Veda which are in the main ritualistic rather than hymnal, concerned with technical details of the sacrifice rather than with the praise of the gods. But the characteristic element of this Veda are the yajus, or formulas in prose, often more or less rhythmic prose. To these this Veda owes its name. They are, by the way, unquestionably the oldest prose on record in the literatures of the Indo- European peoples. These formulas are often brief and concise, mere dedications or swift prayers, ac- companying an action, and sometimes hardly ad- dressed to any one in particular. So, for instance, "Thee for Agni" (agnaye tva), or "This to Agni" (idam agneli), indicate that an object is dedicated to the god Agni. Or, "Thee for strength" is the briefest prayer, or rather magically compelling wish, that the use of a certain article may give strength to the sacrificer. But they swell out from this brev- ity to long solemn litanies that betray at times such a measure of good sense as may at best be expected in these doings. Often, however, they are sunk in the deepest depths of imbecility, mere verbiage in- tent upon silly puns on the names of the things used at the sacrifice. When an animal victim is tied to the post the priest addresses the rope with the words, "Do not turn serpent, do not turn viper!"