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VII. Essay an the Philosophy of the Hindus. Part II. By Henrt 

 Thomas Colebrooke, Esq, Director R.A.S. F.R.S. Sgc. S^c. 



Read February 21, 1824. 



In the preceding essay, the Sdnc'hya, theistical as well as atheistical, was 

 examined. The subject of the present essay, will be the dialectic philoso- 

 phy of GoTAMA, and atomical of CanAde, respectively called Nydya 

 " reasoning," and Vaiseshica " particular." The first, as its title implies, 

 is chiefly occupied with the metaphysics of logic ; the second with physics : 

 that is, with " particulars" or sensible objects : and hence its name. They 

 may be taken generally, as parts of one system : supplying each other's 

 deficiencies : commonly agreeing upon such points as are treated by both : 

 yet on some differing ; and therefore giving origin to two schools, the 

 Naiydyica, and Vaiscshica. 



From these have branched various subordinate schools of philosophy ; 

 which, in the ardor of scholastic disputation, liave disagreed on matters of 

 doctrine or of interpretation. The ordinary distinction between them is 

 that of ancients and moderns ; besides appellations derived from the names 

 of their favourite authors, as will be more particularly noticed in another 

 place. 



The text of Gotama is a collection of sutras or succinct aphorisms, in 

 five books or " lectures;" each divided into two " days" or diurnal lessons; 

 and these again subdivided into sections or articles, termed pi-acaranas, as 

 relating to distinct topics. It is a maxim, that a section is not to consist of 

 so little as a single sutra ; and to make good the rule, some stress is occa- 

 sionally put upon the text ; either splitting an aphorism, or associating it 

 incongruously. 



Canade's collection of sutras is comprised in ten lectures, similarly di- 

 vided into two daily lessons, and these into pracaranas, or sections, contain- 

 ing two or more sutras, relative to the same topic. 



Like the text of other sciences among the Hindus, the sutras of Gutama 

 and of Canade have been explained and annotated by a triple set of com- 

 mentaries, under the usual titles of Bhdshya, Vdrtica, and Tied. These 

 (the Bhdshya especially) are repeatedly cited by modern commentators, as 

 well as by writers of separate treatises ; but (so far as has come under my 



