A Disputation respecting Caste, by Asuu Guosna. 161 
pore college to make a thorough knowledge of Hindu learning the basis of the educa- 
tion of their destined young apostles of Christianity in India, would thence appear to 
be most wise and politic: but to return to my little Treatise. 
We all know that the Brahmans scorn to consider the Sudras as of the same nature 
with themselves, in this respect resembling the bigoted Christians of the dark ages, who 
deemed in like manner of the Jews. The manner in which our author treats this part 
of his subject is, in my judgment, admirable, and altogether worthy of a European mind. 
Indeed it bears the closest resemblance to the style of argument used by Shakspeare, in 
covertly assailing the analogous European prejudice already adverted to. I need not 
point more particularly to the glorious passage in the Merchant of Venice : ** Hath not 
a Jew eyes, hands, organs, dimensions, senses, passions; fed with the same food, hurt by 
the same diseases ?” &c. &c. 
The Bauddha Treatise commences in the sober manner of a title page to a book; but 
immediately after the author has announced himself with due pomp, he rushes “ in 
medias res,” and to the end of his work maintains the animated style of vivd voce dispu- 
tation. Who Asuu Guosua, the author, was, when he flourished and where, I cannot 
ascertain. All that is known of him at Nepal is, that he was a Maha pandit, or great 
sage, and wrote, besides the little Treatise now translated, two larger Bauddha works of 
high repute, the names of which are mentioned in a note.* 
T am, &c. 
B. H. Hopeson. 
I, Asuu Gosna, first invoking Mansa Guosna, the Guru of the world, 
with all my soul and all my strength, proceed to compose the book called 
Vajra Suchi, in accordance with the Shastras (Hindu or Brahmanical 
Sastras). ° 
Allow then that your Vedas and Smrittis, and works involving both 
Dharma and Artha, are good and valid, and that discourses at variance with 
them are invalid, still what you say, that the Brahman is the highest of the 
four castes, cannot be proved from those books. 
Tell me, first of all, what is Brahmanhood? Is it life, or parentage, or 
body, or wisdom, or the way (dchdr), or acts, 7. e. morality (Karam), or the 
Vedas? 
If you say it is life (jiva), such an assertion cannot be reconciled with 
* The Buddha Charitra Kavya, and the Nandi-Mukhasughosha Avadan, and other works. 
Vor. III. Ys 
