Report on the " Vedas." 509 



our collections in India, especially, if we follow Raja Radhak ant's advice 

 to apply for them in the Dekhan (Tailinga, Dravirha, &c). 



Should we, however, fail in this, there is, as Colcbrooke states in his 

 Essay on the Vedas ; and as is alluded to in Raja Radhakant's letter, a 

 complete copy of the Vedas in London, brought there by Col. Polier. 

 It is greatly to be lamented, that we have no catalogue of the Vcdaic 

 MSS. in the Library of the East India House. These collections 

 must, however, be extensive, and we may confidently hope, that the 

 Directors will open to us the resources of their Library for a publica- 

 tion of the Vedas. 



If we have then grounds to believe that we may obtain a complete 

 collection of the Vedas (and also of a commentary of the same), are we 

 to delay the publication of them, until this collection is completed ? I 

 think not. To wait for this, is to postpone the publication to an indefi- 

 nite period, nay, to decline it altogether. The commencement once 

 made, we shall obtain assistance from many quarters in Europe as well 

 as in India. If we do not commence, the public will withhold their aid 

 in the belief, that our present intention of publishing contains as little 

 meaning, as it has displayed for the last five years, during which time 

 we have received the handsome grant of 500 Rs. per mensem, on the 

 part of the Directors, to be expended for this particular purpose. 



I therefore suggest, that the publication of the Vedas should be 

 commenced without further delay, provided that the MSS. at our 

 command suffice (as I think they do) to print a considerable portion of 

 these works together with a commentary, and secondly, that, while 

 the printing is going on, we increase and complete our collections here, 

 and if necessary, in Europe. 



To make myself understood with regard to the mode of the publica- 

 tion of the Vedas that I propose, I must premise a remark on the divi- 

 sion of the Vedas. 



There are, as is well known, Four Vedas, each consisting of two parts ; 

 the first is called Sanhita, and contains a collection of Mantras, or 

 prayers directed to different gods, invocations and incantations. The 

 second part of each Veda is called Brahmana, and contains precepts, 

 moral maxims, explanation of religious ceremonies, &c. 



I have now obtained in Calcutta four complete MSS. of the San- 

 hita of the Rig Veda (the first Veda) and a commentary on the first 



