Book Reviews

Author(s): J W De Jong
Publisher: J W De Jong

Page 4

324 REVIEWS In the introduction to this work the authors express their regret that the history of Indology in Russia is still not sufficiently known and that many valuable works by Russian Indologists are not always accessible to scholars in Europe and India as a result of language difficulties. This is undoubtedly true, but one must not forget also that it is often very difficult to obtain Russian publications which have been published in recent years. Furthermore, the work of scholars published in the form of articles is even more difficult to find, unless one has access to one of the few major libraries which are able to acquire a great number of Russian periodicals. Leading Russian scholars such as V. V. Ivanov and V. N. Toporov have published a number of extremely important articles on Indian mythology, poetics, art, etc., which ought to be collected in one or more volumes. The authors refer only rarely to works in progress. One of the most important projects they mention is a complete translation of the Rigveda with a detailed commentary by the distinguished Vedic specialist, Tatjana Elizarenkova, who has already published a translation of selections of hymns from the Rigveda and the Atharvaveda. After the publication of this work, Vedic specialists will certainly be obliged to learn Russian! Peter Greenwood is responsible for the English translation of this book. The translation reads well, but exception must be made to the use of the word 'relic' to render pamjatnik, cf. p. 163: "Work is going on there mainly on the manuscript collections, on the study of ancient Indian literary relics and Buddhism." Page 179 makes mention of the publication of a series entitled "Relics of Oriental Writing"! Bongard-Levin and Vigasin deserve our gratitude for having written this: stimulating account of Indological studies in Russia. NOTES 1 Cf. Louis Renou, Bibliographie vedique (Paris, 1931), p. 32: D. Koulikowski, 'Rg-veda, IV 26 et IV 27. Essai d'analyse', Rev. Ling. XVIII 1; p. 186: D. Koulikowski, 'Les trois feux sacres du Rig-Veda,' RHR. XX 151. 2 Indijskaja kultura i buddizm. Moskva, 1972. 3 Aziatskij Muzej - Leningradskoe otdelenie Instituta Vostokovedenija AN SSSR (Moskva, 1972), p. 166. 4 Bibliographie bouddhique II (Paris, 1931), p. 57. Australian National University J. W. DE JONG