At the heart of this timeless path stand a handful of texts whose influence spreads like ripples on a pond. Roots run deep in:

• Vedas (Shruti)
– Rigveda: hymns to cosmic forces
– Samaveda: melodies and chants
– Yajurveda: sacrificial formulas
– Atharvaveda: everyday prayers and spells

These four together form the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma, offering glimpses of an ever-flowing cosmic order.

• Brahmanas and Aranyakas
Commentary on ritual and philosophy, the Brahmanas dive into sacrificial details while the forest-treatises (Aranyakas) pave the way toward inner reflection.

• Upanishads
Often called Vedanta (the “end of the Vedas”), around 108 principal Upanishads explore the nature of reality and the self. Today, podcasts and online courses have given these ancient dialogues a fresh lease on life—reminding seekers from Delhi to Dallas that wisdom truly has no expiry date.

• Smritis and Dharmaśāstras
Manu, Yājñavalkya, and others codified social and ethical norms. Manu Smriti might raise eyebrows in modern debates, but its emphasis on dharma (duty) still resonates whenever ethical quandaries surface in boardrooms or courtrooms.

• Itihāsa and Purāṇas
The Mahābhārata (home to the Bhagavad Gītā) and Rāmāyaṇa narrate epic struggles and moral choices. Sixteen major Purāṇas fill in details about gods, cosmology, and cycles of time—stories that keep festivals like Diwali and Navratri glowing on calendars worldwide.

Each layer of this scriptural stack complements the others, painting a holistic portrait of life, duty, and liberation. Schools of philosophy—Nyāya, Sāṃkhya, Yoga, Mimāṃsā, Vedānta—then sift, debate, and apply these teachings. Today’s global interest in Yoga Day, Vedic chant workshops in Silicon Valley, or Sanskrit revival initiatives in universities all trace their lineage back to these foundational texts, proving that the “eternal way” truly stands the test of time.