Indian Antiquary Vol 61

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 175

AUGUST, 1932 ]
BOOK-NOTICES
181
27 and 29: the mention of the Sakas as living near identical with a certain Koira mentioned by Kalhana the Latas and Anartas can only be a reference Rajatar., iv, 489, as flourishing during the eighth to the domains of the Western Satrape, and the century A.D.), SkandaavAmin, Madhava, son of KAmbojas are known to have been connected Venkata, and others. It also contains rather with them. Note 31 : the Strirajya cannot be extensive quotations from Madhava's commentary on that in GarhwAl and Kumkon, but is the same the Rigveda. The main part of the book, however, as the island montioned by Hiuen Tsang southwest consists of indexes to the Nighandu and Nirukta, s of Fo-Lin. Note 34: the Mathura mentioned list of the etymologies of the Nirukta, and separate in connexion with Sind cannot be the town on the lists of quotations from the Nirukta by the comJumns and is possibly a corrupt reading (variant mentators Sayana, Devaraja, Madhava, Udgitha, reading Patuma).
Uvața, Medbátithi and Govindasvåmin. Then folI have also a bone to pick with him on the subject lows a list of quotations occurring in the Nirukta of the Huns. He uses the mention of them in one itself, and finally a short list of untraced quotations form of the earlier recension to show that it cannot found in that same text. It would be an almost be earlier than the fifth century (p. 7, but see unaurmountable task to anyone to control all those p. 29, n. 51, for a different view), and declines to quotations, and besides a very superfluous one. As admit the varianto mentioning Hupas and Hare-far as the present writer has been able to ascertain hunakos in the second recension. But the Huns
by now and then using the various indexes they are are mentioned once in the Ramayana and four
most reliable and carefully composed. Professor times in the Mahabharata, including once with the Sarup is certainly entitled to the thanks of all Harahūnas (is hdra a Sanskritisation of some form Sanskrit scholars for his painstaking and useful of Turki qard, black 1) who appear in two other
magnum opus. passages also. The Hun writing is known to the
In his introduction (p. 3 f.) the learned author Lolitavistars and the Mahduastu. These referencen
mildly criticizes the work of the late Dr. Sköld are all earlier, probably a good deal earlier, than
called The Nirukta, its place in Old Indian Literature, 500 A.D., and I would infer that the Huns had
its Etymologies (1926). The present writer has, dawned on the political consciousness of India
for certain reasons, had to occupy himself most soveral conturies before, and that probably tribes
carefully, with that book, and he can conscien. known to the Indians by that name had settled
tiously testify to its utter valuelessness from every in the Indian borderlands, perhaps before the
point of view. Detailed criticism is, however, out Gupta period. After all one of the thirty-six
of the place, its author having met with prematuro Rajpat tribes used the name. May we express
death; and it is seriously to be hoped that the the hope that, when Dr. Kirfel fulfils his promise
piety of fellow-scholars will let this work fall silently of dealing with other geographical texta, he will
into oblivion. not allow preoccupation with textual criticism to
JABL CHARPENTIER, interfere with the solution of the geographical problems involved ?
E. H. JOHNSTON. SELECTIONS FROM THE PESHWA'S DAFTAR, Nos. 13,
14, 15. Government Central Press, Bombay: INDICES AND APPENDICES TO THE NIRDKTA. With
1931. an Introduction, by LAKSHMAN SABUP. vii +76+
Following closely on the first twelve, we now have 3 94 pp. Published by the University of the
three more pamphlets from Mr. Govind Bardesai, Panjab : bahore, 1929.
who, in accordance with the scheme prepared This most valuable volume forms & worthy con
by Sir Jadunath Sarkar, is in charge of the publicaclusion to the great work of Professor Sarup on the tion of portions of the Peshwa's Daftar. Nirukta, of which have previously appeared the These papers deal with Bajiro's entry into general introduction, the translation, and the criti- Malwa and Bundelkhand, in opposition to the cal text. Only with the help of extensive indexes Delhi Emperor, the conquests that ensued in can the work of Yaska be made full use of; and northern India, and his advance on Delhi itself, Professor Sarup has laid his fellow-scholars under a roughly covering the period between 1724 and 1739. doop obligation by putting together the numerous A reference to the most recent edition of Grant indexes and lists of quotations which form the bulk Duff's History of the Marathde (Edwardes, 1921), of this weighty volume.
will enable the student to follow the main lines of The introduction mainly deals with the dates of the campaigns of which these papers fill in many several authors whose works are more or less closely interesting details. We are able in these papers connected with the Nirukia, as, e.g., Devaraja, to follow the various avonta connected with Bagirdo's Kpirasvamin (who, according to Dr. Sarup, is not attack on the Nizam in the south, followed by his