Since its discovery and the initial efforts toward its critical edition, the Paippalādasaṃhitā of the Atharvaveda (PS) has attracted the attention of Vedic scholars and Indologists for several reasons. From a linguistic point of view, it attests archaic forms side by side with grammatical innovations, and constitutes a precious source for the study of the development of the earliest language. The transmission of the text itself is an intriguing subject that can shed more light on the formation and reciprocal relations of the Vedic schools. Moreover, the text contains important information about various rites and magical practices, hints about the oldest Indo-Iranian and Indo-European myths, mentions of medicinal herbs, plants and animals, references to peculiar features of the Vedic gods, descriptions of demoniac beings, objects of daily life and other realia. All of this makes the PS a text of inestimable value for the study of Indian language and culture.
