Vajasneya' belongs to which of the following Vedas?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
The term 'Vajasneya' is directly associated with the Shukla (White) Yajur Veda, one of the two major recensions (or schools) of the Yajur Veda. The text is commonly known as the Vajasaneyi Samhita, named after the sage Yajnavalkya Vājasaneya. The Yajur Veda, meaning "Veda of sacrificial formulas," is fundamentally concerned with the procedures and hymns (mantras) necessary for performing Vedic sacrifices (Yajnas). The Vajasaneyi Samhita contains the actual sacrificial formulas, forming the bedrock of ritualistic practice in this branch of Vedic literature. It is crucial to remember that the Yajur Veda is unique among the four Vedas in being divided into two primary schools—Shukla (White) and Krishna (Black)—with Vajasneya belonging specifically to the Shukla tradition.

The incorrect option is 1:
Rig Veda is the oldest Veda and is primarily a collection of hymns (Suktas) addressed to various deities. While it provides the source material for many Vedic rituals, it is structured around prayers, not the specific sacrificial prose found in the Vajasneya Samhita.

The incorrect option is 2:
Sama Veda is the "Veda of melodies" and is essentially a collection of stanzas taken mostly from the Rig Veda and set to music. It contains chants (Saman) used by the Udgatri priests during Somasacrifices, a function entirely different from the ritualistic prose of the Vajasneya tradition.

The incorrect option is 4:
Atharva Veda is distinct from the other three Vedas, focusing mainly on spells, charms, medicine, and speculative philosophy related to daily life. It has no direct connection to the formal sacrificial rituals and prose found in the Vajasneya branch of the Yajur Veda.