Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/724

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as Germans are of their Nibelunge, and Greeks, even modern Greeks, of their Homer;" and the translator has done much to render these Sanskrit classics also accessible to English scholars. These excellent publications in English prose are issued, principally gratis, by the Datavya Bharat Karyalya, and such broad philanthropy on the part of this Bengali Association deserves the warmest recognition at the hands of every section of the community. With reference to the Mahabharata in particular, on which, as remarked by Oriental Scholars, Aryan poets and prose writers of succeeding ages have drawn as on a national bank of unlimited resources, the usefulness of such a translation cannot be doubted; and when we are assured that the English translation will cost, at a rough estimate Rs. 100,000, the comprehensive liberality of the "Bharat Karyalya" can be better imagined than enlarged upon. It is proposed to publish an English translation of the Mahabharata in monthly parts of 10 forms each, octavo, demy, the first part of which is before us.

Quoting the preface, those interested in this publishing enterprise will gather all the information they may require from the following excerpt:—

· · · · · · ·

Since the foundation of the "Datavya Bharat Karyalya," not a single copy of any of its publications has been 'parted with for pice.'

It has been found, however, that many men of wealthy and position demur at receiving as a free gift a work which has entailed such costly expenditure, and it is to meet the expressed wishes of this class that a certain number of copies are assessed at a price which will enable them to accept a work in itself almost priceless. We consider this series of publications most creditable to the generosity and public spirit of its promoters, and have no doubt that the country at large will fully appreciate such unusual disinterested liberality on the part of the Datavya Bharat Karyalya and its indefatigable and accomplished Secretary, Babu Protap Chundra Roy.—The Express.

We have before us lying for some time Part No. I. of Mr. Protap Chunder Roy's English translation of the Maha Bharata. The prospectus of this very useful undertaking has long been before the public, and such is the popularity which it has ensured for itself that many of the public men of Calcutta, and not a few of the savants of Europe have lent it their support. And the first instalment of Mr. Roy's translation may well stand the test which is sure to be applied to this ambitious but highly useful task. From the preface attached by Mr. Roy to the first part of his "translations" we find that the idea was recommended to him by "several persons of note and personages even in high rank," and among these we see the name of Lord Hartington, the late Secretary of State for India. Mr. Roy thus describes the scope of his work:—"The English translation will cost, at a rough estimate, Rs. 100,000.— I purpose therefore to