The work presents to the student of religion, in objective form and with constant reference to the original sources and to modern discussions, a comprehensive but concise account of the whole of the religion and philosophy of the Vedic period in India.

The work comprises twenty-nine chapters grouped in five main parts:
* (i) Sources,
* (ii) God and demons of the Veda,
* (iii) Vedic ritual,
* (iv) Spirits of the dead,
* (v) Philosophy of the Veda. It draws mainly from the original sources.