Atharva Veda (Kanda-S 01-4)

Package came in excellent condition and shipped on time, even arriving early. Books are in great shape. Seller is responsive, quick to reply, and a pleasure to speak with. The first volume did arrive with some damage and is being replaced. Edit: the replacement arrived within a couple days of speaking with the seller, and in perfect condition. Note that the fourth volume is only printed in paperback by the publisher and will be shipped with the hardcover set. The books themselves are an easy and engaging read and worthwhile to work from. The book markers are ribbon and may fray with use which is an easy fix at home. The only thing missing for me is a pronunciation of the sanskrit mantras besides the English translation.

The noted Indiologist Frits Staal once described the Atharva Veda as "inaccessible." There is good reason for this moniker. For a group of scriptures already made obscure by time and nuance, the Atharva Veda is doubly so.This translation by R.L. Kashyap is a significant step in decoding the language and meaning of the Atharva Veda and rendering them in a language that is in a comprehensible context to the modern reader.The Atharva Veda is the most openly religious and philosophical of the Vedas. It also marks the philosophical beginning of Ayurveda treatment. Kashyap presents the Suktas of the Atharva Veda in such a way as to distinguish the two for the reader.As in his other translations of the Veda, Kashyap begins each volume with introductory essays He offers cross-references to these words to portions of the other Vedas. He also gives meanings to significant words for the individual Suktas. His introductory material greatly aids the reader in understanding the Atharva Veda.Kashyap follows the interpretation of the Vedas promoted by Sri Aurobindo. Kashyap's translation follows Aurobindo's interpretation. So while there may be some institutional bias in the translation, on balance this may be overlooked. Prior translations of Bloomfield and Whitney are so out of date and incomprehensible, it is gratifying to see a fresh, new, translation of this often-over looked scripture.

Received the book today. Read a few chapters at random. The notes very elaborate and comprehensive, but No english text provide for the Vedas. So if you don't know sanskrit you cannot read it out, but can go through the notes, and be content with it... I'm trying to reach out to the Published to see if they have the English text available, and if I can purchase that as a supplement