TRANSLATION OF THE MOONDUK-OPUNISHUD OF THE UTHURVU-VED, ACCORDING TO THE GLOSS OF THE CELEBRATED SHUNKURA-CHARYU. CALCUTTA : 1819. INTRODUCTION. DURING the intervals between my controversial engagements with idolators as well as with advocates for idolatry, I translated several of the ten Oopunishuds, of which the Vedantu or principal part of the Veds consists, and of which the Shareeruk-Meemangsa, commonly called the Vedant-Durshun, composed by the celebrated Vyas, is explanatory; I have now taken the opportunity of further leisure to publish a translation of the Moonduk-Opunishud. An attentive perusal of this, as well as of the remaining books of the Vedantu, will, I trust, convince every unprejudiced mind, that they, with great consistency, inculcate the unity of God; instructing men, at the same time, in the pure mode of adoring him in spirit. It will also appear evident that the Veds, although they tolerate idolatry as the last provision for those who are totally incapable of raising their minds to the contemplation of the invisible God of nature, yet repeatedly urge the relinquishment of the rites of idol worship, and the adoption of a purer system of religion, on the express grounds, that the observance of idolatrous rites can never be productive of eternal beatitude. These are left to be practised by such persons only as, notwithstanding the constant teaching of spiritual guides, cannot be brought to see perspicuously the majesty of God through the works of nature. The public will, I hope, be assured that nothing but the natural inclination of the ignorant towards the worship of objects resembling their own nature, and to the external forms of rites palpable to their grosser senses, joined to the self-interested motives of their pretended guides, has rendered the generality of the Hindoo community (in defiance of their sacred books) devoted to idol worship;-the source of prejudice and superstition, and of the total destruction of moral principle, as countenancing criminal intercourse,* suicide,† female murder,‡ and human sacrifice. Should my labeurs prove in any degree the means of diminishing the extent of those evils, I shall ever deem myself most amply rewarded. • Vide Defence of Hindoo Theism. THE MOONDUK-OPUNISHUD OF THE UTHURVU-VED. BRUHMA, the greatest of celestial deities, and executive creator and preserver of the world, came into form; he instructed Uthurvu, his eldest son, in the knowledge respecting the Supreme Being, on which all sciences rest. Uthurvu communicated formerly to Ungir what Bruhmá taught him: Ungir imparted the same knowledge to one of the descendants of Bhurudwaju, called Sutyuvahu, who conveyed the doctrine so handed down to Ungirus. Shounuku, a wealthy householder, having in the prescribed manner approached Ungirus, asked, "Is there any being by whose knowledge alone the whole universe may be immediately known? He (Ungirus) then replied: "Those who have a thorough knowledge of the Veds, say that it should be understood that there are two sorts of knowledge; one superior, and the other inferior: There are the Rig-ved, Ujoor-ved, Samu-ved, and Uthurvu-ved; and also their subordinate parts, consisting of Shiksha, or a treatise on pronunciation; Kulpu, or the science that teaches the details of rites according to the different branches of |