Report on the " Vedaa." 51 1 



combined into one, so that if an error should occur in the combination, 

 it is often difficult to find out the incorrect words, while in a succession 

 of Padas the error is directly limited to a single word. At the same 

 time there is a prejudice in favour of the correctness of the text, as 

 great attention is directed to the correctness of each single word by the 

 contrivance of the lines of demarcation. 



Beside these MSS. of the whole Sanhita, there is in one more for 

 the first book accompanying the commentary of Madhav Acharya. 



We have no complete commentary on this Sanhita in Calcutta. Our 

 library possesses the commentary of Madhavacharya on the first book 

 of the Sanhita, (No. 17,) and the Library of the Sanscrit College the 

 same on a part of the second book (No 1431). 



After these remarks then I propose, that the whole Sanhita of the 

 Rig Veda should be prepared for the press, and printed as far as the 

 commentary goes. During this time we shall have opportunity to pro- 

 cure the remaining portion of the commentary from Benares. With 

 regard to the commentary itself I have further to suggest, that it should 

 be abbreviated in such places, where no explanation is necessary, and 

 that especially such parts of the commentary which explain passages, 

 already before commented upon, should be entirely omitted, as a refer- 

 ence to the place, where they are already explained, will be quite suffi- 

 cient. 



With the aid of the commentary the text of the Vedas can be easily 

 understood, and thus will this most ancient record of the religious tra- 

 ditions of the Hindus for the first time be opened to them, but to 

 afford access to the work to the European public also, I beg to suggest, 

 that the text of the Sanhitas at least, should be accompanied by an 

 English translation. There follows no necessity to translate also the 

 commentary, as the English text may be understood by itself. With 

 regard to the Brahmanas I would not advise a translation, because the 

 cost of the work would be considerably increased, and extracts, judici- 

 ously selected, will suffice. 



For the collation of the MSS., the copying of the text and pre- 

 paring of the work for the press, I propose, that the Society should 

 employ, beside their own Pundit, two or three more, under the 

 superintendence of the person whom the Society may entrust with the 

 publication of the work. At the same time the Society should employ, 



