136 
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE OF 
Parvas did contain of the Indian ones, it is impossible for me 
to decide, without being in possession of the Indian Mahdb- 
fiarata the pieces contained in them stand however in high 
esteem and are faithfully copied. They have : 
I A dip ft rva 
6 Swarga- Raivanaparva 
and parts of 
7 Vjcga Pnrva and 
8 Asrama-wastiparva 
The names of the remaining ten they give as follows: 
9 Saba Parra 
14 Gad a Pnrva 
15 Steatama Pnrva 
16 Soptika Parva 
17 St^ipalapa Parva 
18 Aavumedayajnya Parva* 
10 Ar any aka Parva 
11 Drona Parva 
1 2 Kama Parva 
13 baly a Pnrva 
Along with them they mentioned also the Santika-parva, 
although they expressly said there existed no more than 18 
Parvas ; it can therefore be nothing but another name 
tor one of the above 18 Parvas. Vyasa, the author, whom we 
have already mentioned in speaking of the Brahmatidtipura- 
na, is the son of Parasara, the grandson of Safari , who is the 
son of Wasista, the domestic priest in Ayoja, teacher of Rama;, 
& supposed progenitor of one ofthe most distinguished castes of 
the Brahmans. This family was nearly extirpated through Sakri, 
the son of Vasista, being devoured by one cf the Ra/csasas . 
Vasista was ready to immolate himself by the flames, but was 
prevented on hearing from out of the womb of the mother, 
the ciies of his grandson, who afterwards was called Para - 
sara Be then resolved to spare his life for the education of 
the child. Upon this he performed his domestic worship, 
and whilst muttering the Veda a fire broke out, into which all 
the Raksasas were drawn down by an irresistable force and 
destroyed. This furnished the subject of a painting in the pri¬ 
vate temple ofthe rajk Ivassiman of Gunong Rata, where we 
see the holy Wasista performing his worship in the man¬ 
ner still observed to-day by the Panditas, and hosts of 
Ra/csasas,hy the power of his words, falling into the self- 
existent. fire. 
The Ba! inese maintain that the family of Wasista lived in 
Barataivarsa (the eldest holy name of the Rrahmanical India, 
which however comprised only a part of the valley of the 
* These are especially the works whose deficiency the Brahmans, who epolca 
with Cr&wfurd, regretted. They requested me to communicate them to them, 
which I complied with as far as my pieces extended to, with the promise to 
provide also the large remaining part. The Indian books themselves are of uo 
use to them, since they do not know the writing, I was thus obliged to die* 
tate them word by word. 
