Indian Antiquary Vol 09

SR No.: 032501
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 398
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1880.
mother's dislike to the cinder wench. But Hera under the form of Io, and in other ways, is figured as a cow. The cow spinning the kilo of cotton refers plainly enough to the moon threading her course through the stars at night, while her death is explained by her monthly disappearance. Instead of light' then, I would take Cinderella to denote
fire,' or 'flame,' which dies out and becomes black in the form of cinders, but when revived is beauti-
ful in its golden dress; and as the deformed Vulcan becomes the husband of the lovely Aphroditê, so, by an easy change of sex, Cinderella is chosen by the beautiful prince to be his wife.
"The identity of the Indian Vaidrduana with the Greek Hephaestus, is proved by the derivation viérdvas'the renowned,' which is identical with the Homeric epithet, epekAutós, always applied to Vulcan."
BOOK NOTICE
LITERARY REMAINS OF DR. THEODORE GOLDSTÜCKER, 2 The first volume contains contributions to the vols. 8vo. W. H. Allen & Co. London: 1879.
Encyclopaedia Metropolitana and Chambers' EncyGoldstücker's premature death on the 6th
clopedia, and consists of sixty-eight articles, some March 1872, was a heavy blow to the progress of
of considerable length, especially one on the Vedas. Sanskrit studies in England; his conscientious
The Editor has carefully annotated these, and ness and energy impressed all those in communi
drawn attention, where necessary, to the results of cation with him, and his disinterestedness had
more recent research; it thus constitutes a small much effect in raising the tone of Oriental studies
Indian Encyclopaedia. in England, where selfish motives, not love of
The second volume contains six longer Essays, scientific truth, are too often the inducements to
and a philological note. Among these are the follow unattractive courses of study: the results
famous Essay on Hindu Epic Poetry, originally of this offer a sad contrast to the work done in
published in the Westminster Reviero, and the other countries.
remarkable pamphlet on the Deficiencies in the The views Goldstücker adopted in respect of
Present Administration of Hindu Law, which is the value of the work of the native commentators,
just as true now as when it was written ten are already quite obsolete, and it would be difficult
years ago. But if slow in coming, ite result is now to find a single scholar who falows him.
certain. He held the native commentaries far above the
It will thus be seen that a really excellent work results attained by means of scientific philology,
has been done in bringing together papers of such and said (e.g.): "when modern Sanskrit philology
value, and which were so inaccessible before, for affords the spectacle of writers haughtily exag
the most part. But a little more might have gerating these shortcomings, and combining with
been found ; in Trübner's Record (e.g.) there their would-be criticisms the pretence of este are several summaries of papers which Goldblishing the true senge of the Vedas without the
stücker read before the Philological Society, but assistance of Madhava, a mere comparison of the
never published, and there is, also, his most recommentary of the latter with what the European
markable review of Max Müller's Prātiçakhya publio is called upon to accept as its substitute,
of the Rigveda, printed in the Academy of July adds a new testimony to the vast superiority of
9th 1870, which might well have been included. the Hindu scholar over his European antagonists"
The biographical notice prefixed (16 pp.) is excel(vol. I. pp. 101-2). The results already attained
lent; it is no secret that it is by the sympathetic by European philologists are decisive on the
and most competent pen of Dr. R. Rost. question, and Goldstücker, if now alive, would,
An occasional error remains to be corrected here probably, materially modify the strong views he
and there, e.g. the statement (I, p. 276) that the held. Bat his opposition did much good in its
Adbhuta-Brdhmana is probably recent, and that way, as the philologists had to look earnestly to
it is not mentioned by Sdyana; it is part of the the solidity of their work, and thus it happens
Shadvimpa which Sdyana does mention. that the dispute has been finally decided on really
All Sanskritists will welcome these volumes as solid grounds. In this respect, Goldstücker's
a worthy memorial of a true scholar, and it is to papers are rather valuable as materials for history
be hoped that Mr. J. F. Fleet will now see his of the past than as helps for the present.
way to bringing out Goldstücker's Sanskrit In other respects, every Sanskritist will wel.
Grammar. come these two volumes as valuable belps in
. A. B. present difficulties.
• In the Mentone version given by Mr. Lang.