1838.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



229 



it may be expedient to postpone the remainder of this abstract to a 

 futm-e section of my general report; especially as I find the abstract, 

 however meager, considerably more verbose than I anticipated at the 

 commencement. 1 may be permitted to observe, that the moral end, 

 apparently proposed by this work, resembles that proposed by the Chris- 

 tian system, with a difference however as to the idea involved in beatifi- 

 cation, and with a much wider difference as to moral means ; espe- 

 cially as to the idea of hmnan merit, which the one exalts, and the other 

 abases. It is further observable, from what precedes, that the doctrine 

 of this Purana is a clouded theism ; evincing the primal idea of one 

 Supreme Being to have been obscured, and depreciated, when the Purana 

 was written. It is likewise impossible to deny to its author an obscure 

 traditional acquaintance with the sublime idea of a triad in unity ; ren- 

 dered however inconsistent with itself, from being misunderstood, and 

 made subservient to the object of a sect among the Hiudas. I have 

 been reminded, in passing, of the notions of the Jewish Rabbies, and 

 Talmudists, on this same subject; though an assimilation of things, and 

 persons, so different must be avoided. It may not be wrong to note, by 

 the way, that the sacrifice of Dacsha has been supposed to refer to the 

 sacrifice of Abel ; and the translation of Enoch has been identified with 

 the apotheosis of Druhvah. In both cases however, w^herein so many 

 things, on either side, are wanting to complete a parallel, the rashness 

 of the identification seems to me to be extreme. A more ready way, to bring 

 researches into the history, and theology or mythology, of the people 

 of India into premature contempt, could hardly have been devised. Let 

 us first submit patiently, and perseveringly, to learn what Hindu books 

 really do contain ; and when a sufficient basis of accurate knowledge has 

 been acquired, then inferences, assimilations, or comparisons, may be 

 drawn, with greater safety. 



Note. The two MSS. specified at the head of this article, are very 

 briefly entered in Des. Catal. vol. 1. p. 106. as " an abridged translation 

 of the Bhagavat purayia by Chennaya Fddha.^^ — On examination No. 

 11, was found to be very incomplete ; wanting the 1st and 2d sections, a 

 part of the beginning of the 3d section, and the whole of the sections 

 from 4 to 9 inclusive. From the 10th section, to the end, there is no de- 

 fect ; and all that remains of the book is quite uninjured by insects. 



The MS. No. 12 was found to want a leaf at the beginning of the 10th 

 section, and a leaf copied from the contents of No. 11, was inserted, mak- 

 ing this MS. complete : it is also in good preservation. One complete 

 copy I deem sufficient. 



