The Holy Vedas: Rig Veda,Yajur Veda Sama Veda and Atharva Veda - Tapa dura

The book is divided into 4 sections, each describing one Veda. The sections have very lucid, readable, modern English summary translations of the original text. There is no original Sanskrit, only English translation, and that too a summary or excerpt since the orginal Vedas are very long. I've see many translations of the Vedas, but what impressed me about this book are: (1) Translation is extremely readable/fluent, in prose-style (not in verse), not monotonous/boring and uses modern English (no thou, didst and stuff) (2) Print is good, font is big and clear, pages are good quality, binding is hardcover and feels solid (3) Translation is loyal to the original text. I've compared many sections with 4 other translations (by different authors) and this matches them (within boundaries of interpretation) Things this book could have done better: (1) There is no cross-reference to original Vedic verse. For example, when you're reading a paragraph in the Rig Veda, it doesn't tell you which mandala or verse it refers to. (2) The Rig Veda is the oldest and many of its verses are restated in the other Vedas. But they should be translated under Rig Veda since that is the original source. For example, this book has the Gayatri Mantra in the Yajur Veda, which is not incorrect, but everyone expects it in the Rig Veda since that's where it originally is from. Other than a few quirks like this, this is the only book I could find that gives a good, lucid, prose overview or flavor of the contents of all the Vedas. --By Book Lover Portland

Will make a good reference of the vedas if you are into scriptural studies. However, it may not be complete. --Murali

The Holy Vedas are the Mother of all religious scriptures. All other religious scriptures are offshoots from the great Vedas ever changing over time to suit the views and desires of the aspirants. Reading the Vedas only help in understanding whatever religion an aspirant pursues. Therefore, I can only encourage the reading of the Vedas. --Carmelita G. Biffle

The Vedas are ancient texts that are sacred in India and reknowned the world over.There are four vedas,known as the Rig Veda,the Yajur Veda,the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda.Vedas teach the three paths to salvation.These paths are jnana(knowledge),bhakti(devotion) and karma(action).The Rig Veda is identified with the path of knowledge,the Yajur veda with the path of action and the Sama veda with the path of devotion. A honest effort has been made in this Book to explain the contents of the Vedas in easy to follow language.