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208
THE PRAOTICAL PATH.
translations are concerned, it is not likely that they would be wrong altogether, since they are
every word in the light of its derivative sense. We have already sufficiently criticised the European version, and shall, therefore, now proceed to determine the merit of Mr. Guru Datta's reading by comparing it with that of Prof. Max Muller. The passage selected by us for the purposes of a comparison is the one selected by Mr. Guru Datta himself, and consists of the first three mantras of the 162nd sukta of the Rig Veda. Mr. Guru Datta's version as well as that of Prof. Max Muller are both given in the Terminology of the Vedas, and read thus:--
Mr. Guru Datta.
Prof. Max Muller. 1. “We shall describe the 1. "May Mitra, Varuna, Aryapower-generating virtues of the man, Ayu, Indra, the Lord of the energetic horses endowed with Ribhus, and the Maruts not rebuke brilliant properties, or the vir- us, because we shall proclaim at tues of the vigorous force of the sacrifice the virtues of the heat which learned or scienti- swift horse sprung from the gods. fic men can evoke to work for purposes of appliances (not sacrifice).
2. “They who preach that 2. “When they lead before the only wealth earned by righte- horse, which is decked with pure ous means should be appropri- gold ornaments, the offering, firmly ated and spent, and those born grasped, the spotted goat bleats in wisdom, who are well-versed while walking onwards; it goes in questioning others elegantly, the path beloved by Indra and in the science of forms and in Pushan, correcting the unwise, these and such alone drink the potion of strength and of power to govern.
3. "The goat possessed of 3. “This goat, destined for all useful properties yields milk as the gods, is led first with the quick a strengthening food for horses, horse, as Pushan's share; For The best cereal is useful when Tvashtri himself raises to giory
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