Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/26

 The present edition shall consist of 1250 copies. 250 copies are intended for distribution in India free of all charges, among the gentry, the aristocracy, and reigning chiefs; 300 among Indian officials of the higher ranks; 250 for distribution out of India, chiefly among the savants of Europe and America. 200 copies must be reserved (as experience has taught me) for making up losses caused to recipients by negligence and in transit. The remaining 250 copies shall be charged for at 50 and  65 per copy inclusive of postal costs,  50 being payable by persons in India and  65 by those in Europe and America. It is needless to say that the selection of recipients shall, in regard to the present publication, rest entirely with the Karyalaya. Any person desirous of taking a copy, but whose name may not be entered in the free list, may, if he like, have his name registered in the list of those to whom the aforesaid 250 copies are to be supplied for 50 or 65 a copy. In case, however, of sheer inability on the part of these, copies may even be supplied, as long as available, at 12 or  25 according as the address is Indian or foreign. It is needlesneedless [sic], however, to say that this last class of recipients must necessarily be very limited.

Since the foundation of the "Datavya Bharat Karyalya," not a single copy of any of its publications has ever been parted with for price. The present departure, therefore, from the Karyalya's uniform practice, in regard to at least 250 copies of the projected publication, requires a word of explanation. During the last seven years I have found a new gentlemen evincing some reluctance in accepting in gift the publications of the "Bharata Karyalya," although this latter is no institution belonging to any private individual but is rather a national concern supported by a nation's patriotism. Many of the persons evincing such delicacy are too important to be overlooked in the distribution of our publication. It is to meet their case especially that 250 copies of the proposed translation are reserved. These gentlemen might easily accept copies now, on payment, which, as stated above, is 50 in India and  65 out of India. So far as the "Bharata Karyalya," however, is concerned, gentlemen taking copies on payment of the above