Indian Antiquary Vol 40

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 64

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[FEBRUARY, 1911
not the remotest resemblance to any of the other symbols, and on no sound principle can they be established as representing numerical quantities.
IV. The context of these symbols, certainly does not support the generally accepted interpretations. Bühler gives for the Sahasrām version : " And this sermon is by the Departed. Two hundred (years) exceeded by fifty-six, 256' have passeil since" and for the Rūpnāth and Brahmagiri versions, he gives the same rendering with slight verbal differences. Oldenberg gives the general sense of the passage as "This teaching was preached by the Departed; the number of the departed who have taught on carth is 256." Senart's translation of the Sahasrām version is: "It is by the missionary that this teaching is spread abroad). Two hundred and fifty-six men have gone forth in missions." M. Lévi explained the number 256 as indicating not a date, but simply the official notation of the number of aksharas contained in the elict.' Fleet's rendering agrees in substance with that given by Bühler.
V.
Definite conclusions on such a subject as this are difficult to achiere, and, althongh to be desired, are not logically necessary, and, perhaps, in the present state of our knowledge, it is not wise to formulate any. We may, however, state the following without falling into grievous error :
1. The process of investigation that led to the interpretation of A, D, G and J (Table I) as 200' are faulty in almost every detail. The principal guides seem to have been (a) Cunningham, who was notoriously erratic in such matters, (b) the akshara theory which is now totally discredited and () a desire to make different versions agree in detail.
2. The symbols A, D, G and J (Table 1) ate possibly not nomerical symbols at all. But might not be a symbol for 3,000 ?
3. The symbols B, E, H and K may be tentatively accepted as meaning fifty,' although B is very doubtful.
4. The symbols , F, I and L may also be tentatively accepted as meaning 'six.'
1. A fresh rendering of the passage from the standpoint that the numerical figures are "fiftysix' would lead to results at least as definite as those hitherto obtained.
A LAGUNA IN THE HARIVAM'SA.
BY A. GOVINDACHALYA SVAMIN, M.R.A.S. It is well known that the great Vyasa composed the Hari-varitsa as the colophon to the Fi'th Veda, the Mahābhārata. After composing the latter, it is chronicled that he felt like one bewildered and entangled in the maze of differences and diversities of religion, but with the load-star of the Harivashka he found his one and true Path to Salvation. This idea is allegorically enshrined in certain well-known poems;
By Vyāsa himself in the following verse :1. Asat-kirtana-kantára-parivartana-panhsuldm
Vdchani Sauri-kathalapa-Gangay-aiva punimahe i.e., "The tongne has become soiled by wandering in the wilds of lading others (than Hari); but let us wash it by the Ganges (-water) of Sauri'si (.e., Hari's) praise."
The Ganges water here alluded to is his last work, the Harivansa (so allegorised).
2. Sri-Parâsara-bhattaryad composed an invocatory verse to the female Saint Anda in the following terms:
Niļa-tunga-slana-giri-tați-suptam-udbodhya Krishnam
Parárthyam svam áruti-sata-tiras-siddham-adhydpayanti The passage is discussed at longth in Fleet's paper on The date of Buddha's death, eto, J.R.4.8., 1904, p. 1. 1 Sauri-Descendant of Sura-Kțishpa-Hari 1 A. D. 1074. See No. 32 in the Hierarchical Table to my Lives of the Saints, in English. 3 B. 0. 3005. See No. 14, Table op. cit.