The Vedas (“knowledge” or wisdom) are the ancient and the most sacred writings that are the foundation of Hindu scripture. Supposedly compiled by the Hindu sage Vyāsa, the Vedas encompass a series of hymns and formulaic chants that establish the Hindu liturgy.
Called Ṣruti (“that which has been heard”) to signify that they were “revealed,” the Vedas are regarded by Hindus as “eternal” and not the work of man. They were initially handed down by word of mouth before taking their present form and composed between c.1500 and 1200 BCE during the Samhitā epoch.
The hymns in the Vedas establish a liturgical corpus that partly evolved around the soma ritual. Recited or chanted during Hindu rites and ceremonies, the hymns extolled an extensive pantheon of Gods and Goddesses such as Agni (fire,) Sūrya (sun,) Usha (dawn,) and Indra (rain) that exemplified natural and cosmic phenomena, and others Mitrá (friendship,) Varuṇa (moral authority,) and Vāc (speech) that represented abstract qualities.
More broadly, the Veda is a collective noun, which has come to include not only the four Vedas themselves, but also the associated corpus of supplementary texts, covering prose explanations (the brāhmaṇas) of ritual acts, and other commentaries on them. These include the forest-books Āraṇyakas (c.100–c.800 BCE,) the ritual mystical interpretations Upaniṣads (c.800–500 BCE,) and various sūtras and vedāṇgas.
There are four Vedas: Ṛig-Veda (“Knowledge of the Verses,”) containing 1026 hymns in a priestly institution; Yajur Veda (“Knowledge of the Sacrifice,”) consisting of prayers and sacred formulations; Sāma Veda (“Knowledge of the Chants,”) consisting of hymns taken from the Ṛig-Veda, but sung richly to a scale of seven notes instead of the three notes used for other Vedic recital; and Atharva Veda (“Knowledge of the Fire Priest,”) a collection of popular hymns, incantations, and magic spells. Each Veda is generally considered to have three sections—samhitā (hymns and chants,) brāmana (details of sacrifice,) and the Upaniṣads (speculative, philosophical texts.)
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When there is harmony between the mind, heart and resolution then nothing is impossible.
—The Vedas
Let the stronger man give to the man whose need is greater; let him gaze upon the lengthening path of life. For riches roll like the wheels of a chariot, turning from one to another.
—The Vedas
A person can achieve everything by being simple and humble.
—The Vedas
It takes time for a fruit to mature and acquire sweetness and become eatable; time is a prime factor for most good fortunes.
—The Vedas
Laziness erodes a person of his enthusiasm and energy. As a result the person loses all opportunities and finally becomes dejected and frustrated. The worst thing is that he stops believing in himself.
—The Vedas
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
The Mahabharata Hindu Religious Text
The Upanishads Sacred Books of Hinduism