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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1884.
lamp-stands, each with a cloth knotted round the 1 middle of it. The tops of these resemble candle flames. A-well raised circle, double at the bottom, surrounds this. Outside it is the legend, in well-raised Chôļa-grantha characters, apparently of rather an older type than those on the other seal, and not quite so distinct in some places. It apparently reads :
(ft . ( T?) efterfor: T55a( ?) TTT PUT (?) TIHTY
That is—“The order of ($ri) Rajendra Chola ko P)parakesarivarma Rajcê?)ndra. ......... row of light ........."
We are not aware that these plates have ever been published. They evidently belong to the great Chola dynasty of Southern India, and they may throw light on obscure points in their little known history.
EDITOR. THE PROVERBS OF ALI BIN TALEBI. Translated by K. T. Best, M.A., M.R.A.S.,
Principal, Gujarat College. Ali was the son-in-law of the Prophet Muham. mad and was the fourth successor of the prophet according to the traditions of the Sunnie and the first Khalif or Imam according to the belief of the Shiahs of Persia. The proverbs or rather the 'sayings' of Ali form, in their completed shape, one of the most popular books of the Shiah divines, who look upon these dicta of their adored leader much the same as the Sunni Muhammadans do upon the mirkals or traditions of the prophet himself. Ockley in his History of the Saracens gives a fully told life of Ali. He lived in the seventh century.
1. Religion gives strung protection; the world betrays.
2. Truth is a cutting sword. 3. Envy is the chief of vices. 4. Behind prosperity sits adversity.
5. Fasting is a most useful medicine, abundance multiplies diseases.
6. The ascent to excellent virtues is difficult, the descent to vices easy.
7. To be occupied with what is past is a waste of time.
8. Religion is patience in adversity and gratitude in prosperity.
9. A fellow-feeling on religious matters causes the firmest friendship.
10. Take care not to praise any one on qualities which he does not possess, for his work will show whether you have rightly described him.
11. That which is incorrect is corrected by learning
12. Rewards are obtained by work not by idle. ness.
13. Submit yourself to your master and he will exalt you; approach God with the obedience due to Him and He will come near to you.
14. Look attentively before you apply your mind to anything; and consult with another before you proceed with it; and arrange the mode of acting before you enter on the business.
15. The folly of a man is seen by two things, viz. when he speaks of a thing with which he has nothing to do, and when he replies to something of which he has not been asked.
16. The fruit of carelessness is penitence and the result of sin disgrace.
17. The liberality of a poor man makes him illustrious, but the avarice of a rich one makes him vile.
18. Seriousness is the ornament of a man. 19. Obedience is the oinanient of a servant.
20. The folly of a counsellor is the destruction of him who seeks advice.
21. The harm done by a speech is greater than that of a wound.
22. Associate with the learned and wise and frequent their assemblies, for if you are ignorant they will teach you and if you are learned you will increase in knowledge.
23. Elegance of manners is half of religion. 24. Good government makes an empire lasting. 25. The love of the world is the source of all evil.
26. The love of the world corrupts the mind and makes the heart deaf, so that it does not listen to wisdom.
27. The sweetness of another life takes away the bitterness of this.
28. The sweetness of victory obliterates the bitterness of patience.
29. Piety cannot reside in a mind which is saddened on account of earthly things.
30. The best praise is that which flows from the tongue of the good.
31. The best thing about alms is their secrecy.
32. The best man is he who is liberal and grateful in his prosperity, and has patience and a noble mind in adversity.
33. The companionship of worldly people disgraces religion and weakens faith.
34. A heart without religion is filled with vain delights of the world.
35. The prosperity of a liberal man displays his virtues, but the prosperity of a miser shows his vices.
36. Silver which profits is better than gold which destroys.
37. With God the silver of a poor man is brighter than the gold of a rich one.
38. The house of retribution (i.e. Paradise) ia not without generous men, but there is no miser there.
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