Essays on the Religion and Philosophy of the Hindus (Classic Reprint)

On the VEDAS, or sacred writings oA eH indus. [F rom the Asiatic Researches, vol. viii. p. 369 476. Calcutta, 1805. 4to.] In the early progress of researches into Indian literature, it was doubted whether the Vedas were extant; or, if portions of them were still preserved, whether any person, however learned in other respects, might be capable of understanding their obsolete dialect. It was believed too, that, if aB rdhmana really possessed the Indian scriptures, his religious prejudices would nevertheless prevent his imparting the holy knowledge to any but a regenerate Hindu. These notions, supported by popular tales, were cherished long after the Vedas had been communicated toda ra shucoh ,and parts of them translated into the Persian language by him, or for his use. The doubts were not finally abandoned, until Colonel polier obtained from Jeyepur a transcript of what purported to be a complete copy of the Vddas, and which he deposited in theB ritish Museum. A bout tlio. same timeS ir kobert chambers collected at Benares numerous fragments of the Indian scripture: General martine, at a later period, obtained copies of some parts of it; andS ir william jones was successful in procuring valuable portions of the Vedas and in translating several curious passages from one of them. I have been still more fortunate in collecting at Benares the text and commentary of a large portion of these celebrated books; and, without waiting to examine them more completely, than has been yet practicable ,I shall here attempt to give a brief explanation of what they chiefly contain. It is well known, that the original Veda is believed by the Hindus to have been revealed by brahma ,and-to have been preserved by tradition, tintil it was arranged in its present order by a sage, who thence obtained the surname of vya sa, or vedavya sa: that is, Extracts have also, been translated
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