Finding texts

The Texts page is both a catalogue and a set of suggested entry points into the corpus.

Curated texts

The default Curated view is a short set of worthwhile starting texts. It is useful when you want a guided sample rather than an alphabetical catalogue. Deselect Curated to see the complete list.

Text classes

Texts are assigned to broad literary and intellectual classes. These include Vedic Saṃhitās, Brāhmaṇas, Āraṇyakas, Upaniṣads, Vedāṅga texts, Itihāsa & Purāṇa, Darśanas, Kalā & Kāvya, Buddhist & Jain, and other relevant groups.

Select one or more classes to narrow the catalogue. Selecting a class again removes it. Combining classes is useful for comparisons, such as Vedic ritual literature alongside Upaniṣads, or philosophical works across traditions.

Titles, descriptions, and tags

Catalogue entries may include a short description, tags, a verse count, notable lemmas, and related texts. Treat tags as themes or domains, not as a complete scholarly classification. A description is a point of orientation; the reader and source notes remain the place to inspect the text itself.

Choosing a text for a purpose

• For early Vedic language and ritual vocabulary, begin with a Vedic Saṃhitā or Brāhmaṇa.
• For concise philosophical Sanskrit, begin with a sūtra text or a short Upaniṣad.
• For narrative, compare Itihāsa & Purāṇa selections with fables and literary works.
• For technical vocabulary, use Vedāṅga, Āyurveda, grammatical, or philosophical texts and follow their recurring lemmas.

There is no required order. A good route is the one that lets your question become more precise.