2l6 ON THE DUTIES 



Gitdy docs not appear to have made sufficient impres- 

 sion. Several late compilations in Europe betray 

 great want of judgment in the selection of authori- 

 ties; and their motley dress of true and false colours 

 tends to perpetuate error; for this reason it seems 

 necessary on every topic, to revert to original au- 

 thorities for the purpose of cancelling error or veri- 

 fying facts already published ; and this object will 

 no way be more readily attained than by the com- 

 munication of detached essays on each topic, as it 

 may present itself to the Orientalist in the progress 

 of his researches. 



From this or any other motive for indulgence, 

 should the following authorities from Sanscrit books 

 be thought worthy of a place in the next volume of 

 the Society's Transactions, I shall be rewarded for 

 the pains taken in collecting them. 



" Having first bathed, the widow, dressed in two 

 fi clean garments, and holding some cusa grass, sips 

 " water from the palm of her hand. Bearing cha 

 " and iilq (a) on her hand, she looks towards the 

 " east or north while the Brahmana utters the mystic 

 ** word 0?n. Bowing to Nefopam?, she next declares 

 " (b) : " On this month, so named in such a Pacsha, 

 tc on such a tifhi, 1 (naming herself and her (c) 

 '• family) that 1 may meet Arundhati' (d) and re- 

 '* side in Swarga; that the years of my stay may be 



(a) Sesamum. 



(6) This ceclaratjon is called the Sancalpa, 



(c) Got) a, the family or race. Four great families of Brahmanas 

 are now extant, and have branched into many distinct races. Since 

 the memorable massacre of the Cshat>lya> y by Parasu Rama, the 

 Csbatriyas describe themselves from the sa,me Gutras as the Brah- 

 ■yanai. 



(d) Wife of Vasisht'ha. 



f numerous 



