A farrago of contradictions is all that these tales amount to, nor are they redeemed even by a poetical garb.[65] In the period immediately following the Br[=a]hmanas, or toward the end of the Brahmanic period, as one will, there is a famous distinction made between the gods.

Some gods, it is said, are spirit-gods; some are work-gods.

They are born of spirit and of works, respectively.

The difference, however, is not essential, but functional; so that one may conclude from this authority, the Nirukta (a grammatical and epexigetical work), that all the gods have a like nature; and that the spirit-gods, who are the older, differ only in lack of specific functions from the work-gods.

A not uninteresting debate follows this passage in regard to the true nature of the gods.
Some people say they are anthropomorphic; others deny this.