The Vedas were passed down orally from one generation to the next. The Rishi or seer did not write it nor did he create it.The texts of the Vedas are known as Samhitas. Puranas are compiled from related historical facts, which explain the teachings of the four Vedas. In the Chandogya Upanishad, the Puranas and the Mahabharatha, generally known as histories, are mentioned as the fifth Veda.

The Puranas explain that the Vedic truths and are intended for different types of men. All men are not equal. There are men who are good, others who are driven by passion and others who are under the veil of ignorance. The Puranas are so divided that any class of men can take advantage of them and gradually regain their original nature and get out of the hard struggle for existence.

Itihasas are literatures describing historical events pertaining to either a single hero or a few heroic personalities in a lineage: for example, Ramayana describing the pastimes of Sri Ramachandra and Mahabharata describing the pastimes of the Pandavas in the lineage of the Kurus. In these books there are topics on transcendental subjects along with material topics. The whole idea of the Mahabharata culminates in the ultimate instructions of the Bhagavad-gita that one should give up all other engagements and should engage oneself solely and fully in surrendering unto the lotus feet of Krishna. The conclusive teaching of the Ramayana also is to fully surrender and take shelter of Lord Sri Ramachandra.

Kaavyas are dramatic poetical presentations of selected histories from the Itihasas and Puranas. Eg:- Raghuvamsa, Meghaduta, Shakuntala.
Bhagavad-gita is the essence of the subject matter of the Brahma-sutras. Vedic knowledge is complete because it is above all doubts and mistakes, and Bhagavad-gita is the essence of all such Vedic knowledge. Out of many standard and authoritative revealed scriptures, the Bhagavad-gita is the best. The Bhagavad-gita however is a part of the epic Mahabharata.

DIVISIONS OF THE VEDAS
The Veda is divided into four great books: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda.
In all, the whole Veda is divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty sections. Each Veda consists of four parts to suit the four stages in a man's life- Bramacharya, Grihasta, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa. The four divisions are as follows:
The Mantra-Samhitas which are hymns in praise of the Vedic God for acquiring material prosperity and happiness. They are poems comprising prayers, hymns and incantations addressed to various deities. It is useful to Brahmacharins
The Brahmanas or explanations of Mantras or rituals which give guidance to people as to how the sacrificial rites are to be performed. They are explanations of the method of using the Mantras in Yajnas or other rites. The Brahmana portion is suitable for householders.
The Aranyakas are the forest books, the texts of which give philosophical interpretations of the rituals. The Aranyakas are intended for the Vanaprasthas or hermits who prepare themselves for taking up Sannyasa.