Entertaining no doubts concerning the genuineness of the other works, which have been here described, I think it, nevertheless, proper to state some of the reasons on which my belief of their authenticity is founded. It appears necessary to do so, since a late author has abruptly pronounced the Vedas to be forgeries."*

"It has been already mentioned, that the practice of reading the principal Vedas in superstitious modes, tends to preserve the genuine text. Copies, prepared for such modes of recital, are spread in various parts of India, especially Benares, Jeyenagar, and the banks of the Godaveri. Interpolations and forgeries have become impracticable since this usage has been introduced: and the Rigveda, and both the Yajushes, belonging to the several Sachas, in which that custom has been adopted, have been therefore long safe from alteration."

* Mr. Pinkerton, in his Modern Geography.

"The explanatory table of contents, belonging to the several Vedas, also tends to insure the purity of the text; since the subject and length of each passage are therein specified. The index, again, is itself secured from alteration by more than one exposition of its meaning, in the form of a perpetual commentary.

"It is a received and well grounded opinion of the learned in India, that no book is altogether safe from changes and interpolations until it has been commented: but when once a gloss has been published, no fabrication would afterwards succeed; because the perpetual commentary notices. every passage, and, in general, explains every word.

text.

"Commentaries on the Vedas themselves exist, which testify the authenticity of the Some are stated to have been composed in early times: I shall not, however, rely on any but those to which I can with certainty refer. I have fragments of Uvata's gloss; the greatest part of Sayana's on several Vedas; and a complete one by Ma

hidhara on a single Veda. I also possess nearly the whole of Sancara's commentary on the Upanishads; and a part of Gaudapada's; with others, by different authors of less note.

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The genuineness of the commentaries, again, is secured by a crowd of annotators, whose works expound every passage in the original gloss; and whose annotations are again interpreted by others. This observation is particularly applicable to the most important parts of the Vedas, which, as is natural, are the most studiously and elaborately explained.

"The Niructa, with its copious commentaries on the obsolete words and passages of scripture, further authenticates the accuracy of the text, as there explained. The references and quotations in those works, agree with the text of the Vedas, as we now find it.

"The grammar of the Sanscrit language contains rules applicable to the anomalies of the ancient dialect. The many and voluminous commentaries on that, and on

other parts of the grammar, abound in examples cited from the Vedas: and here, also, the present text is consonant to those ancient quotations.

Philosophical works, especially the numerous commentaries on the aphorisms of the Mimansa and Vedanta, illustrate and support every position advanced in them, by ample quotations from the Vedas. The object of the Mimansa is to establish the cogency of precepts contained in scripture, and to furnish maxims for its interpretation; and, for the same purpose, rules of reasoning, from which a system of logic is deducible. The object of the Vedanta is to illustrate the system of mystical theology taught by the supposed revelation, and to shew its application to the enthusiastic pursuit of unimpassioned perfection and mystical intercourse with the divinity. Both are closely connected with the Vedas: and here, likewise, the authenticity of the text is supported by ancient references and citations.

by ancient authors,* on religious ceremonies, contain, in every line, references to passages of the Vedas. Commentaries on these aphorisms cite the passages at greater length. Separate treatises also interpret the prayers used at divers ceremonies. Rituals, some ancient, others modern, contain a full detail of the ceremonial, with all the prayers which are to be recited at the various religious rites for which they are formed. Such rituals are extant, not only for ceremonies which are constantly observed, but for others which are rarely practised; and even for such as have been long since disused. In all, the passages taken

"The Sutras of Aswalayana, Sanchyayana, Bauddhayana, Catyayana, Latayana, Gobhila, Apastamba, &c.

"These, appertaining to various Sachas of the Vedas, constitute the calpa, or system of religious observances. I have here enumerated a few only. The list might be much enlarged, from my own collection; and still more so, from quotations by various compilers; for the original works, and their commentaries, as well as compilations from them, are very numerous."