Treatises and the Commanding Treatises

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

Treatises and the Commanding Treatises
There are four books under this heading: The Valmiki-Ramayana, the Yogavasishtha, The
Mahabharata and the Harivamsa. These embody all that is in the Vedas, but only in a simpler
manner. These are called the Suhrit-Samhitas or the Friendly Treatises, while the Vedas are called
the Prabhu-Samhitas or the Commanding Treatises with great authority. These works explain the
great universal truths in the form of historical narratives, stories and dialogues. These are very
interesting volumes and are liked by all, from the inquisitive child to the intellectual scholar.
The Itihasas give us beautiful stories of absorbing interest and importance, through which
all the fundamental teachings of Hinduism are indelibly impressed on one’s mind. The laws of

Smritis and the principles of the Vedas are stamped firmly on the minds of the Hindus through the
noble and marvellous deeds of their great national heroes. We get a clear idea of Hinduism from
these sublime stories.
The common man cannot comprehend the high abstract philosophy of the Upanishads and
the Brahma Sutras. Hence, the compassionate sages Valmiki and Vyasa wrote the Itihasas for the
benefit of common people. The same philosophy is presented with analogies and parables in a
tasteful form to the common run of mankind.
The two well-known Itihasas (histories) are the epics (Mahakavyas), Ramayana and
Mahabharata. They are two very popular and useful Sastras of the Hindus. The Ramayana was
written by the sage Valmiki, and the Mahabharata by Vyasa.