20 Mr. H. T. Colebrooke on the Philosophy of the Hindus. 



" Vedas, is to be rejected by those who strictly adhere to revelation. In 

 " Jaimini's doctrine, and in Vyasa's, there is nothing whatsoever at variance 

 " with scripture."* 



Heretical treatises of philosophy are very numerous : among which that 

 of Charvaca, which exhibits the doctrine of the Jaina sect, is most con- 

 spicuous : and next to it, the Pdsiipdta. 



To them and to the orthodox systems before mentioned, it is not intended 

 here to advert, further than as they are noticed by writers on the Sdnc'hya, 

 citing opinions of other schools of philosophy, in course of commenting on 

 the text which they are engaged in expounding. It is not my present pur- 

 pose to exhibit a contrasted view of the tenets of different philosophical 

 schools ; but to present to this Society a summary of the doctrine of a 

 single sect : which will serve, however, to elucidate that of several more. 



Of other philosophical sects, the received doctrines in detail may be best 

 reserved for separate notice, in distinct essays to be hereafter submitted to 

 the Society. I must be clearly understood, however, not to pledge myself 

 definitively for that task. 



I proceed without further preface to the immediate subject of the present 

 essay : 



A system of philosophy, in which precision of reckoning is obsei^ved in 

 the enumeration of its principles, is denominated Sdnc'hya ; a term which 

 has been understood to signify numeral agreeably to the usual acceptation 

 of sanc'hyd, number : and hence its analogy to tlie Pythagorean philosophy 

 has been presumed. But the name may betaken to imply, that its doctrine 

 is founded in the exercise of judgment: for tlie word, from which it is 

 derived, signifies reasoning or deliberation ;t and that interpretation of its 

 import is countenanced by a passage of the Bhdrala, where it is said of 

 this sect of philosophers : " They exercise judgment (sanc'hyd), and discuss 

 '• nature and [other] twenty-four principles, and therefore are called 

 « Sdnc'hya."t 



The commentator, wlio has furnished tills quotation, expounds sanc'hyd, 

 as here importing ' the discovery of spiil by means of right discrimination.' t 



The reputed founder of this sect of metaphysical philosopiiy was Capila ; 

 an ancient sage, concerning whose origin and adventures the mythological 



* Quotation in VijnyAna — Bhicshu's — Capila —hlu'ishi/a. 

 t Am. Cosh. 1. 1, 4, U. X Cap. Dhckh. 



