Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/717

 We are glad to notice that Babu Protap Chundra Roy, Secretary to the Datavya Bharata Karyalya, is about to undertake the translation, into English, of one of our great national epicsthe Mahabharata. The work, we are told, will be commenced under the auspices of His Highness the Maharajah of Cashmere, Maharnnee [sic] Sarnomayi, His Highness the Gaekwar of Baroda, the Hon'ble Maharajah Joteendra Mohun Tagore, and several other distinguished notables of the land. We need hardly say we have strong sympathy with the movement and we wish it every success. "The ancient literature of India is a glorious inheritance, and the time is not far off when every educated native of this country will be as proud of his Mahabharata and Ramayana as the Germans are of their Nibelunge, and Greeks, even modern Greeks, of their Homer." The great epic of Vyasa is, indeed, "an inexhaustible store-house of moral lessons taught not by dry precepts but illustrated by the history of living men, princes and warriors, sages and hermits, indeed of every specimen of humanity that can interest mankind in general." The study of such an epic cannot but exercise a profound influence upon the reformation of our national character as well as upon our patriotic aspirations. But unfortunately at present the Mahabharata is a sealed book to most of us. We verily believe that Babu Protap Chundra's translation, when completed, will remove a great want. Viewed in this light, Babu Protab Chundra's project has the appearance of a great national enterprise, and we wish it every success.Bengalee.

English translation of the "Mahabharat" has been sent to us for review. The work, as we recently stated, is being issued free by the Bharat Karyalya of Calcutta, and it is really an achievement of which India has reason to be proud. The printing and get-up of the work are excellent, and no pains have been spared to perfect the translation. Great trouble has been taken to secure good readings of disputed passages, and this has necessitated reference to scholars in distant countries, and to pundits in remote parts of India. The delay thus caused may interfere with the regular appearance of the instalments of the work at states intervals, but there is little reason to doubt that the editor will, as he expects, bring his labours to a close within a year. Turning to the translation, it may be said that criticism is disarmed by an enterprise like this, which can provoke only approval and gratitude. Still it is only just that the translator's work should be appraised. As even Macaulay's schoolboy now knows, the Mahabharata comprises 100,000 verses, and is an epic on the war between the two rival families of the Kauravas and Pandavas, resulting in the supremacy of the latter in Hindustan. In this there is undoubtedly a basis of historical fact, which it is now impossible to discriminate. With the main story are mingled innumerable episodes, taking up three-quarters of the whole, and forming a ground-work of cos-