OF THE HINDUS. 



353 



with Pythagoras, and Patanjali with Zeno : but an 

 accurate comparifon between the Grecian and Indian 

 Schools would require a confiderable volume. The 

 original works of thofe Philofophers are very fuccind; 

 but, like all the other Sdflras, they are explained, or 

 obfcured, by the Upaderfana, or Commentaries, without 

 end. One of the finett competitions on the Philofophy 

 of the Veddnta is entitled Yoga Vdsiflit'ha, and contains 

 the instructions of the great Vajijlka to his pupil, 

 Rama, king of Ayddhyd. 



It refults from this analyfis of Hindu Literature, that 

 the Veda, Upaveda, Vcddnga, Purdna, Dherma, and 

 Dersana, are the Six great Sdflras, in which all know- 

 ledge, divine and human, is fuppofed to be compre- 

 hended. And here we mult not forget, that the word 

 Sdflra, derived from a root signifying to ordain, means 

 generally an ordinance, and particularly a J 'acred ordi- 

 nance, delivered by inspiration. Properly, therefore, 

 this word is applied only to facred literature, of which 

 the text exhibits an accurate fketch. 



The Siidras, ox Jour th clafs of Hindus, are not per- 

 mitted to ftudy the fix proper Sdjlrds before enumerat- 

 ed; but an ample held remains for them in the Itudy of 

 profane literature, comprifed in a multitude of popular 

 books, which correfpond with the feveral Sdjlras, and 

 abound with beauties of every kind. All the tracts on 

 Medicine muff, indeed, be ftudied by the Vaidyd's, or 

 thofe who are born physicians ; and they have often 

 more learning, with far lefs pride, than any of the 

 Brdhmans. They are ufually poets, grammarians, rhe- 

 toricians, moralists; and may be esteemed in general 

 the mod virtuous and amiable of the Hindus. Inftead 

 of the Veda's, they Itudy the Rdjanvi, or In/lrutlion of 

 Princes ; and, inftead of Law, the Ninfdjlra, or general 

 S y ft e m o f Eth icks. Their Sah it 1a, or Cd vya Sdjl ra , con- 

 ftfts of innumerable poems, written chiefly by ihe?ncdical 

 tribe, and fupplying the place of the Purdnas, fince 



they 



