Indian Antiquary Vol 06

SR No.: 032498
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 458
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

Page 303

SEPTEMBER, 1877.]
THE INDIKA OF MEGASTHENES.
243
and the box-tree, and other evergreens, none their time in listening to serious discourse, and of which are found beyond the Euphrates, ex- in imparting their knowledge to such as will cept a few in parks, which it requires great listen to them. The hearer is not allowed to care to preserve. They observe also certain speak, or even to cough, and much less to spit, customs which are Bacchanalian. Thus they and if he offends in any of these ways he is cast dress in muslin, wear the turban, use perfumes, out from their society that very day, as being array themselves in garments dyed of bright a man who is wanting in self-restraint. After colours; and their kings, when they appear in living in this manner for seven-and-thirty years, public, are preceded by the music of drums and each individual retires to hisown property, where gongs. But the philosophers who live on the he lives for the rest of his days in case and secuplains worship Hérakles. [These accounts are rity. They then array themselves in fine muslin. fabulous, and are impugned by many writers, and wear a few trinkets of gold on their fingers especially what is said about the vine and and in their ears. They eat flesh, but not that of wine. For the greater part of Armenia, and animals employed in labour. They abstain from the whole of Mesopotamia and Media, onwards hot and highly seasoned food. They marry as to Persia and Karmania, lie beyond the Eu- many wives as they please, with a view to have phrates, and throughout a great part of each of numerous children, for by having many wives these countries good vines grow, and good greater advantages are enjoyed, and, since they wine is produced.] .
have no slaves, they have more need to have (59) Megasthenes makes a different division children around them to attend to their wants. of the philosophers, saying that they are of two The Brachmanes do not communicato a knowkinds-one of which he calls the Brachmanes, ledge of philosophy to their wives, lest they and the other the Sarmanes. The Brach- should divulge any of the forbidden mysteries manes are best esteemed, for they are more to the profane if they became depraved, or lest consistent in their opinions. From the time of they should desert them if they became good their conception in the womb they are under philosophers : for po one who despises pleasure the guardian care of learned men, who go to and pain, as well as life and death, wishes to be the mother and, under the pretence of using in subjection to another, but this is characterissome incantations for the welfare of herself and tic both of a good man and of a good woman. her unborn babe, in reality give her prudent 1 Death is with them a very frequent subject hints and counsels. The women who listen most of discourse. They regard this life as, so to willingly are thought to be the most fortunate in speak, the time when the child within the their children. After their birth the children are womb becomes mature, and death as a birth under the care of one person after another, and as into a real and happy life for the votaries of they advance in age each succeeding master is philosophy. On this account they undergo more accomplished tlian his predecessor. The much discipline as a preparation for death. philosophers have their abode in a grove in front They consider nothing that befalls men to be of the city within a moderate-sized enclosure. either good or bad, to suppose otherwise being They live in a simple style, and lie on beds of a dream-like illusion, else how could some bo rushes or (deer) skins. They abstain from sffected with sorrow, and others with pleasure, aninal food and sexual pleasures, and spend by the very same things, and how could the
• "Since the word Sappavas (the form used by Clemens of Alexandria) corresponds to the letter with the Sanskrit word sramana (.e. an secetio), it is evident that the forma l'appavas and repravas, which are found in all the MSS. of Strabo, are incorrect. The mistake need not surprises, since the SA when closely written together differ little in form from the syilablo IA. In the same way Clement's 'AXX6B1ou must be changed into Strabo's *Y26Blo, corresponding with the Sanskrit Vanaprastha"the man of the first three castes who, after the term of his householdership has expired, bas entered the third drama or order, and has proceeded (prastha) to a life in the woochs (Vana).'"-Schwanbeck, p. 46; H. H. Wilson, Gloss. "It is a capital question," he adds, "who the Sarmante
were, some considering them to be Buddhists, and others denying them to be such. Weighty arguments are adduced on both sides, but the opinion of those seems to approach nearer the truth who contend that they were Buddhists."
+ "A mistake (of the Greek writers) originates in their ignorance of the fourfold division of a Brâhman's life. Thus they speak of men who had been for many years sophists marrying and returning to common life (Aluding probably to a student who, having completed the susterities of the first period, becomes a householder)." Elphinstone's History of India, p. 286, where it is also remarked that the writers erroneously prolong the period during which students listen to their instructors in silence and respect, making it extend in all cases to thirty-seven, which is the greatest age to which Mana (chap. III. sec. 1) permits it in any case to be protracted.