1840,] 



Life and Writings of Father Beschi, 



273 



Qun-meuiLi^Q ^ rr eS ir em rr m Qp ^0<a)ei)/re^«5)@tS 

 Q Lj(r p ^QiSiSj uSl (SO pmu^aSli^efileoQ tu, 



GS^(^fi sjU /§1ieoOupp<SPseDjFmss>LaiLj&r(^^£pn OLD/a@iX)SiSuj/rLJ(f5 

 (^^efij^ ^ a5r?afrujQ)(SD/r(?^/r(^^(a5it57OTr^ OiuioeDiraipeoptLj Old/t^tij 



Quit (^sfilir an rr ^<o))(^(Lp ^0<si)(^eLi&)(^i2i eu essr isj s ^ (^O ld oj s 



Infinite goodness extending to all and the absolute deprivation of all 

 defecly these two are the appropriate and unvarying attributes of the true 

 God, worthy to be adored by all. From this root the six attributes by 

 which the wise have endeavoured to convey a knowledge of the true God 

 have arisen like branches ; they say that he who possesses all these is 

 God, but that he who is deficient in one must, also, be deficient in the rest 

 and, consequently, not God, Therefore, said Joseph, even as they at' 

 tempt to depict in ink the sun with unnumbered beams, will I in language 

 all inadequate endeavour to explain the six attributes of the Deity, 



Existing by himself ; existing without beginning ; existing independ' 

 ently of the organs of sense ; being possessed of everlasting and univer- 

 sal goodness ; pervading all space ; being the first cause by which all 

 things were created at once and without assistatice: — these six attributes 

 describe the divine nature of the true God, worthy to be adored in ths 

 heavens, shining like gold, and in all worlds. 



These six attributes, expressed in the same terms, are, also, found 

 under the word ^(sssnh-sh- in the Togei-yagaradi or third division of 

 Vira-mamuni^s Sadur-agaradi, or dictionary of the high Tamil in four 

 parts, and they are, also, enumerated in the commentary on the follow- 

 ing couplet, which contains the invocation prefixed to the part treat- 

 ing on prosody in his grammar of the high Tamil, entitled Tonnul- 

 Vilaccara. 



Havings to obtain his aid, worshipped the feet of the only God, who 

 united with all good, possesselh the six attribute s^ 1 proceed to explain 

 the rules of prosody, 



PRAISE OF GOD. 

 As a further exemplification of the success with which Vira-mamuni 

 has imitated, not merely the expression, but the modes of thought of 

 the previous Tamil writers, the following stanzas are selected from the 



