271 - The different recensions of the Vedas 

Pushkara said:

1. The number of hymns of the Rug (veda), Yajur (veda), Sama (veda) and Atharva (veda) that yield all (the desires) and confer the four ends of the human life¹ is one lakh. 

1. Righteousness, material prosperity, pleasures and beatitude. 

2. (The Rugveda) is divided into two branches, Sankhyayana and Aśhvalayana. The brähmaņas (of this Veda) (contain) two thousand one hundred and ten hymns. 

3. The Rugveda is considered as the authority by the Dvaipåyanas and others. The hymns of the Yajurveda number one thousand nine hundred and ninetynine. 

4-5. Their branches are one thousand eightysix. The branches of the Yajur (veda) are (known as) Kåņvi, Madhyandini, Kathi, Madhyakathi, Maitrāyaṇi, Taittiriya and Vaisampayana. 

6-8a. The first (branch) of the Sāmaveda is known as Kauthuma and the second as Atharvaņayani. The songs of this Veda consist of āranyaka, uktha and üha. The extent of the (Sāmaveda) is said to be a collection of nine thousand four hundred and twentyfive. 

8b-9a. Sumantu, Jajali, Slokayani, Saunaka, Pippalada, Muñjakeśha and others (are those who represent the branches) of Atharva (veda). 

9b-10. The Lord (Vishnu) in the form of (sage) Vyāsa divided the ten thousand and six hundred hymns and one hundred Upanishads into different recensions. (Lord) Vishņu also made the divisions of the Epics and Purānas. 

11-12. The bard Lomaharshaņa got it from Vyása. Sumati, Agnivarchas, Mitrayu, Simšapāyana (Sämśapåyana ?), Krutavrata and Sävarņi were his disciples. Samsapayana and others were the makers of the collection of Puråņic texts. 

13. The Brahma (puräna) and other Purāņas are eighteen. (They are known to be) learning relating to (Lord) Hari (Vishnu). (Lord) Hari remains in the form of learning in the great Purāna (called) Agni. 

14. One would get enjoyment and emancipation by worshipping and praising Him, who is immanent, transcendent and bears the gross and subtle forms. 

15. (That) all-pervasive, triumphant (lord) wishing for prosperity is of the forms of Fire, Sun etc. (Lord) Vishņu, that is the mouth of the gods in the form of the Fire (god), is the supreme state. 

16. The embodiment of sacrifices is praised in the Vedas and Purānas. The Agneya-purāna is the greatest of the forms of Vishnu. 

17-22. The composer and listener of the Agneya-puräna is (Lord) Janårdana (Vishņu). Hence the Agneya-puräna is great as that made up of all the Vedas. It is of the form of all learning, meritorious, of the form of all knowledge and excellent. It is of the form of all the beings and of (Lord) Hari (Vishņu). (It is meritorious) for the men who read and listen to ( its narration). It gives knowledge to those who seek knowledge. It yields material prosperity to those who seek material prosperity. It confers kingdom on those who desire to have kingdom. It yields righteousness to those who seek righteousness. It confers heaven on those who seek heaven. It blesses those who seek progeny with progeny. It gives cows to those who seek cows. Those who seek a village would be blessed with a village. Those who desire pleasures would be getting pleasures. It gives all good fortune. It gives good qualities and fame to men. Those who seek victory would get victory. It gives all things to those who seek everything. Those who desire emancipation would be blessed with emancipation. The Agnipurāna destroys the sins of sinners.