REVIEW.

Vidwan-Moda Tarangini, or Fountain of Pleasure to the Learned, translated into English, by Mahá Rájá Kál Krishna Bahadur, &c. &c.

The Work thus entituled first appeared in 1832, from the Serampore Press, containing with the Sanscrit original in the Bengálí character, the same English version now attached to the Devanagarí. The difference of character therefore excepted, the present is simply a reprint of the former edition, without alteration or improvement. Even the title-page still professes to be a first edition; though a dedication to Lord W. BENTINCK as of a second edition, is subjoined, and a short paragraph inserted in the Advertisement, with the date 1834. In that additional paragraph it is stated, that "the present edition has been made at the suggestion of Mr. C. E. Trevelyan, the Depy. Secy. to the Government, and highly approved by Mr. Secretary W. H. Macnaghten, and Captain A. Troyer, A. D. C., for the better understanding of the inhabitants in the Upper Provinces ;" meaning, it is presumed, that the Devanagari character has been substituted for the Bengálí, in order to render the publication available for the natives of the Ultra-Bengal Provinces. Whether the highly respectable gentlemen here named, as recommending and approving of the re-impression, have found leisure from their numerous and highly important avocations to examine attentively the original work, and compare it with the present publication, we have no means of determining, nor is it of consequence to learn; since it is to be inferred that they were simply the advisers of the propriety of putting within the reach of educated natives of the upper countries, such esteemed original works, accompanied with an English version, as deserved a wider extension than while perpetuated in MS. only, they could ever obtain; so, at the same time, exciting a taste for the study of the language and literature of their European Rulers, and advantageously and effectually qualifying them for pursuing larger measures of acquirement, while widening the range of Western wisdom and science.

The Rájá's object is a highly laudable one, his exertions doubtless well-intentioned, and therefore meritorious. An examination alone of his publication can enable us to decide upon the measure in which the execution is calculated to accomplish the proposed design.

This may be considered twofold-1st, to aid the English student in the perusal and understanding of the original Sanskrit work; 2ndly, to assist the native learner, in the acquisition of the English language, while leading him to a better acquaintance

with the philosophy of his country. In either case, the translation should not only be accurate, but adhere as closely to the original as may be consistent with idiom and purity of style. Where the sense and meaning of the author are not faithfully and clearly conveyed, the European will be led into error, or left, without help, to rely on his own single judgment; and where the version is obscure, inelegant, or unidiomatic, the native will be in danger of misapprehending its purport, and of acquiring an erroneous, unclassical, or barbarous phraseology. Now it is not with the remotest feeling of disrespect to the Rájá Kálí Krishna, that we are compelled by truth and just criticism, to pronounce that the present publication will not, in our judgment, stand the test of examination by the foregoing canon. His is neither a faithful translation nor a correct one. But we must first describe the original work, which is an interlocutory poem, or dramatic dialogue, of the simplest construction. The design of it is to expose the tenets and practices of the various Hindu sects of mixed Philosophy and Theology. It comprises eight cantos or acts, numbering in sum nearly 400 Shlokas or couplets, in metrical composition, besides portions of prose intermixed, in which the characters are introduced, explanations given, &c. These eight cantos are poetically termed by the author so many Tarangas or waves, forming together the Vidwan-Moda Taranginí, or Waving River of Pleasure to the Wise. It was composed by Chiranjiva, a celebrated Pandit (or scholar) of Gaur, the ancient capital of Lower Bengal, in the reign of Daksha, king of that country, according to Ward, (the Rájá K. Krishna, says of Vikrama Sena;) and is written in various metres, from the anustup of two Pádas or hemistichs, in each of the two lines of the Shloka, to the Prakriti of twenty-one.

The conduct of the poem is as follows:-In the first canto or prologue, the author, after an obscure and highly imaginative invocation of the goddess Durgá to aid his intellect, gives his own genealogy, with laudatory details of his memorable ancestors, their works and learning. In the second canto, the monarch is represented surrounded by his courtiers, while individuals of each sect of philosophy and theology, as well as professors of grammar, rhetoric, &c. approach to partake of an entertainment to which they had previously been invited. A well-informed courtier introduces each as he advances, to the royal notice, by a succinct enumeration of his characteristic appearance, dress, and manner. Approaching the monarch, all in turn address him in strains of mingled compliment and blessing, corresponding to their several peculiar notions or professions, and invoking the deities specially regarded by their several sects. So when the Shaiva (or worshipper of Shiva) enters; "the courtier

thus spoke to the Rájá.-His head is covered with matted hair, his waist girded with a tiger-skin, and his body decorated with Vibhooti (the ashes of cow-dung), from the upper part of which is seen suspended a garland of Rudrákshya (red berries). He comes forward and blesses the Rájá in the following strain :May he whom the Vedas always sing of, and the Yugees (or devotees) constantly contemplate; by whose authoritative command deities are created, protected, and destroyed; he who, though he be incorporeal, yet for the salvation of his people became corporeal; even He whose only reflexion is his own glorious self, and who enlightens the world, preserve your life from danger!"

The description of the Nyáyaka (or logician) is characteristic: "On his tongue Saraswati, the goddess of speech (eloquence), appears as it were to sport; he looks upon all, himself excepted, as a straw in point of knowledge." The Vedántí or pantheistic philosopher's salutation is equally expressive of the peculiar notion of his sect: " May your mind be freed from illusions, and become duly enlightened by ready understanding; may you have a right estimation of yourself, and be free from all earthly ties of relationship, with which the heart of every individual on earth is engrossed, and by which the knowledge of the one God, whose sun-like spirit floats upon the waters, and who alone is all-wise, supremely happy, dwelling in light, the unknown, and yet the all-present, is forgotten!"

The last who is introduced is the Nástika or atheist, (properly a Bauddha or Buddhist, according to the assertions of the orthodox Hindus.) "This person steps with great prudence and caution, sweeping the ground he is treading, lest he should injure any insect ;"(they are represented always to carry a broom for the purpose, as being peculiarly tenacious of abstinence from all injury to animated creatures ;)" with his hair dishevelled, he approaches and speaks thus:-Alas! how has the heart of your majesty been misled by adhering to the sayings of treacherous people; your majesty pays homage to mere idols, and thinks that by so doing, as well as by sacrificing animals in honour of them, you perform a pious deed, which will ensure your majesty everlasting bliss! May your majesty then be just and upright, by following the path of true wisdom." Here the argument of the book commences. The entrance and speech of the Nástika excite a general movement among the courtiers, who, says the translation, "justly ridicule the man, and express their detestation of his impiety:-O vile infernal creature, whence comest thou!" Upon which he in turn reproaches them with "slaying harmless animals, and yet pretending to meritorious actions." The Mimánsaka or Vedic ritualist first takes up the gauntlet, and carries on an argument with the atheist, who, having worsted his

antagonist, is next encountered by the Vedánti or pantheist, with whose defeat the second canto concludes. In the third, the contest is resumed by the Tárkika or Sophist, or general disputant, who professes to investigate every thing, and to decide by just reason alone. The atheist is here represented as having the worst of the argument, and is at length driven to admit, though reluctantly, and for the nonce, the being of an Almighty Ruler, but still denies his eternity: till he is at length "completely confuted and censured by the courtiers for his incapacity to argue, as well as for his ignorance of mythology. The theologist began in the meantime to triumph over his opponent, and it was universally admitted, that supernatural power belonged to Him, who is the sole Lord of men, and the great Governor, as well as the final Destroyer of heaven and earth, under whose parental protection his creatures enjoy tranquillity of mind, and through whose divine aid, atheism and its supporters may at any time be confounded and destroyed." This conclusion is certainly just in itself, and leaves an impression favourable to piety and virtue; but in the conduct of the dispute it is more than doubtful whether the atheist does not bring forward arguments which his opponents do not always effectually meet. This whole contest with the atheist is both the most animated and most interesting portion of the entire drama, and certainly affords a very favourable specimen of the author's powers. We shall give an abstract of its principal parts as an inducement, we hope, to some of our readers to peruse the entire work. Havarensis.

DEC.

17.

21.

[To be continued in our next.]

DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES.

[Where the place is not mentioned, Calcutta is to be understood.]

MARRIAGES.

At Surat, Captain F. M. Isedell, 16th N. I., to Miss Walters.
At Nellore, Mr. J. Summers, to Miss McLeod.

Mr. P. Clemons, to Miss Henriques.

28. Mr. J. Campbell, to Mrs. Mayer.

JAN.

Mr. C. G. Brien, to Miss McKan.

Mr. Charles Peters, to Miss Robinson.

At Chinsurah, Lieut. G. Smith, H. M. 44th Regt., to Miss Brand. 21. Mr. C. Sutherland, to Miss M. H. Sutherland.

6. At Moulmein, the lady of Capt. Stockwell, of a son.

14.

16.

At Cawnpore, the lady of Capt. Smith, 6th L. C., of a daughter. At Belgaum, the lady of Capt. Weynter, 4th N. I., of a son. 21. At Chittagong, Mrs. William Kennedy, of a son.

Mrs. G. Smith, of a daughter.

Mrs. Howitson, of a son.

Mrs. Michael DeRozario, of a son.

At Kidderpore, Mrs. Trotter, of a daughter.
Mrs. G. Forrest, of a son.

7. Mrs. Kiernan, of a son.

At Serampore, the lady of E. Sandford, Esq., of a daughter.
At Tirhoot, the lady of W. H. Sterndale, of a daughter.
10. At Dum-Dum, the lady of Capt. Vanrenan, of a daughter.
Mrs. Chalcroft, of a son.

Mrs. Paterson, of a son.

At Chinsurah, Mrs. Barber, of a son.

13. Mrs. Richard Evans, of a son.

16. At Chinsurah, the lady of Rev. W. Morton, of a daughter.
At Chandernagore, the lady of F. Comfon, Esq., of a daughter.
The lady of G. S. Dick, Esq., of a son.

17.

At Patna, the lady of S. Droes, Esq., of a son.

18. The lady of P. Durand, Esq., of a daughter.

DEC.

14.

DEATHS.

At Dinapore, the son of Mrs. Maddock, aged one day. 17. On the river, Master Pakes, aged 15 years.

25. Madame Marie Regordie, aged 75 years.

27. Miss Sineas, aged 15 years.

28.

Mrs. A. DeSouza, aged 75 years.

31. Mr. H. Ellison, aged 23 years, 2 months and 12 days. JAN.

1. At Midnapore, the son of Mr. H. Doyle, aged 11 months. 6. At Dacca, the lady of Major Blackall, 39th N. I.

Mr. F. Bowland, aged 35 years.

7. Master Samuel Mellen, aged 16 years.

8.

Mrs. M. Pelling, aged 67 years.

Mr. William Bansley, aged 46 years.

Mr. Peirse, aged 20 years.

Lieut. G. Borridaile, Brigade Major, aged 20 years.
Mr. Westcott, aged 60 years.

9. Mr. Jackson, aged 82 years.

At Bombay, Mr. Richard Tudor, aged 30 years.

10. Alfred Plane, Esq.

14. Serjeant Dickson, H. M. 44th Regt., aged 67 years and 7 months. 16. Mrs. Harris, aged 41 years.

29. Irma, (F.) H. Bernard, from Havre de Grace 26th August. Passengers.-S. Thiault, and C. Thiault, Esqs. Merchants.

Magnet, (Barque,) J. McMine, from Liverpool 27th June, and Rio Janeiro

1st October.

30. Falcon, (Ditto,) D. Ovenstone, from Singapore 7th, Malacca and Penang 16th December.

Passengers from Singapore.-John Clark, Esq. and Alexander Fraser, Esq. From Penang.-Major Sutherland, and Lieutenant Bowers, Madras Infantry.