1851.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 361 



show in a more suitable manner than by informing you of the aim of my 

 literary pursuits and the manner in which I hope to attain it. One of my 

 chief objects, which since 1836, when I commenced my Indian studies, con- 

 stantly engaged my attention, has been to trace the religious and philoso- 

 phical development of the Hindus, and to lay the results of my researches 

 before the public. Of the close connexion of religion arid philosophy among 

 the Hindus, I became aware only in the course of my studies, and the 

 necessity of such a work, as I intend to publish, has forced itself the more 

 upon me, as I find, that a separate treatment of the history of religion and 

 philosophy would in most instances lead to hypotheses and doubtful results. 

 The same difficulty obtained for both of them, viz., that the materials were 

 either scanty or not yet accessible. When therefore the Vedas were pub- 

 lished by competent scholars and translations of them promised, I resolved 

 to commence a translation of the Mahabharata, in order to obtain a uniform 

 basis for quoting references for the more modern history of religion. For 

 this purpose a revision of the often suspicious text of the Calcutta edition 

 was necessary. I therefore compared the first books with the best appli- 

 ances in Europe, and copied the commentaries of Nilakantha, Chaturbhuja, 

 Arjuna Mis'ra, &c. for the whole Mahabharata, in such a manner, that after 

 another comparison with the MSS. at London, they are ready for the press. 

 The first volume of my (German) translation which has been made with 

 reference to those collations, is nearly completed. In respect to the colla- 

 tions I have to observe, that the various readings are considerable and of 

 much more importance than I had reason to suspect, as the Calcutta edition 

 is on the whole a careful one, and I am of opinion, that without these ardu- 

 ous and tedious preliminary labours, the translation could be but uncritical. 

 I would take this opportunity to express a wish that the Pandits might be 

 induced to lay before the public, the various readings which they collect in 

 their editions. I do not think, that I myself shall be able to publish these 

 philological researches and the commentaries as I am not supplied with the 

 means for so great an undertaking. 



n With reference to Indian philosophy, the want of the necessary appliances 

 compelled me to publish the principal works of each period with their phi- 

 lological apparatus, before giving the result of my own critical and histori- 

 cal researches. I therefore intend, in accordance with the division of the 

 orthodox philosophy into six principal schools, to publish the most impor- 

 tant works of each division, which are not yet edited, and independent of 

 the commentary, which I must add myself, to append to each division a 

 history of its philosophy. How far I shall be able to follow out my plan, 

 depends not only upon favourable external circumstances, but also upon the 



