| Moreover its Rsis
and kings are the starting-points of Itihasas and Puranas, and the social customs that it
mentions give rise to the Dharma-sastras. We may even say its occasional protests against
sacrifice lead to Buddhism and Jainism. Thus all our secondary scriptures-the Smrtis, the
Itihasas, the Puranas, the Agamas and the Darsanas-are only developments of the Veda. These
later scriptures are like the gold coins of various epochs. Their ultimate source is the
Veda, which is like a mine of gold. And,
just as all our scriptures have a common source, they have a common aim. Their aim is to
make man a perfect spirit like God and one with Him. With that aim in view they try to
create political and social institutions which will help the spiritual development of every
man according to his capacity. They rouse his imagination, they quicken his intellect and
form his character and the guide him along the steep and difficult path of ascent
that leads to God. |
