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phrates, and throughout a great part of each of these countries good vines grow, and good wine is produced.]
(59) Megasthenes makes a different division of the philosophers, saying that they are of two kinds—one of which he calls the Brachmanes, and the other the Sarmanes.[1] The Brachmanes are best esteemed, for they are more consistent in their opinions. From the time of their conception in the womb they are under the guardian care of learned men, who go to the mother and, under the pretence of using some incantations for the welfare of herself and her unborn babe, in reality give her prudent hints and counsels. The women who listen most willingly are thought to be the most fortunate in their children. After their birth the children are under the care of one person after another, and as
- ↑ "Since the word (
Greek characters) (the form used by Clemens of Alexandria) corresponds to the letter with the Sanskrit word Śramuma (i.e. an ascetic), it ,is evident that the forms (Greek characters) and (Greek characters), which are found in all the MSS. of Strabo, are incorrect. The mistake need not surprise ns, since the (Greek characters) when closely written together differ little in form from the syllable (Greek characters). In the same way Clement's (Greek characters) must be changed into Strabo's (Greek characters), corresponding with the Sanskṛit Vamapṛastha—'the man of the first three castes who, after the term of his hooseholdership has expired, has entered the third âśrama or order, and has proceeded (praṡtha) to a life in the woods (V{{subst:a^}}na).* "— Schwanbeck, p. 46 ; H. H. Wilson, Gloss. "It is a capital question," he adds, "who the Sarman{{subst:ae}} were, some considering them to be Buddhists, and others denying them to be such. Weighty arguments are adduced on both sides, but the opinion of those seems to approach nearer the truth who contend that they were Buddhists."
