390 



Beport on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



[Oct. 



plained so much of the newly pressed bearer. The result led to a dis- 

 course on spiritual matters, between the raja and the Brahman. The 

 raja wrs so much pleased with this discourse, that he took the Brah- 

 man to be his guru, or spiritual preceptor. The latter avowed himself 

 to be Bharata, recounted his past history ; and then taught the king 

 of Sindhu, spiritual knowledge, turning on the vicissitudes of earthly 

 things. The raja returned to his own country. The Brahman (i. e. 

 Bharata) left off keeping the fields, which office had been assigned to 

 him by his former master. He now wandered about; passed the re- 

 mainder of bis life without control ; and at his own pleasure. 



The pos:erity of Bharata follows in sue ession. Afterwards there is 

 a full description of the seven dwipas, seas and other matters, accord- 

 ing to Paurawcal geography. The channel of one river is filled with 

 flowing juice of mangoes; they who partake of this amrita, or nectar, 

 overcome death. The account of the different regions is full and par- 

 ticular. In Pushcura-dwipa the day and night is said to consist, taken 

 together, of a year (which of course is the case near the polar regions) : 

 no distinction of caste is observed there. Beyond is Chacravali-giri 

 (apparently the north pole), and beyond that a golden country (region 

 unknown). The sun goes round Chacravali-gm ; and, in that land, re- 

 verses its order of rising and setting. 



A transition is then made to the stellar sky, or world of the stars. 

 The inferior worlds are noticed ; their rulers and inhabitants are de- 

 scribed, down to Naraca. A description of the pains, penalties, and se- 

 vere inflictions visited on the guilty in Naraca is given. It is mi- 

 nute, circumstantial, revolting ; and it fails of the awful sublimity of 

 the Christian revelation, on this point, as to simplicity and grandeur: 

 inasmuch as the details sometimes verge on the ludicrous; and, in 

 other instances, are shocking, without being impressive. — With the 

 enumeration, on this subject, as indicated, the fifth book concludes. 



Remark. — Upon the slightly altered plan of my reports, the abstract 

 of one book, at a time, may be proportionably sufficient. According 

 to inferences by Sir W. Jones, Svayambhuva manu has been identified 

 with Adam, the progenitor of mankind. That such, however, is the re- 

 ference of the name in this document I greatly doubt: the facility with 

 which the same names are applied to different persons, at distant places, 

 and periods of time, may easily reconcile any discrepancy. That Pri- 

 yavrdta is said to have had ten sons, I desire to be noted ; without, at 

 present, drawing any inference therefrom. As to further, and follow- 

 ing matters it does not seem needful for me to ma"ke any special anno- 

 tation. 



