Sacred Books of the East (Set of 50 Volumes)

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I Must begin this series of translations of the Sacred Books of the East with three cautions:- the first, referring to the character of the original texts here translated; the second, with regard to the difficulties in making a proper use of translations; the third, showing what is possible and what is im- possible in rendering ancient thought into modern speech.

THE ancient Vedic literature, the foundation of the whole literature of India, which has been handed down in that country in an unbroken succession from the earliest times within the recollection of man to the present day, became known for the first time beyond the frontiers of India through the Upanishads. The Upanishads were translated from Sanskrit into Persian by, or, it may be, for Dârâ Shukoh, the eldest son of Shah Jehân, an enlightened prince, who openly professed the liberal religious tenets of the great Emperor Akbar, and even wrote a book intended to reconcile the religious doctrines of Hindus and Moham- medans. He seems first to have heard of the Upanishads during his stay in Kashmir in 1640. He afterwards in- vited several Pandits from Benares to Delhi, who were to assist him in the work of translation. The translation was finished in 1657. Three years after the accomplish- ment of this work, in 1659, the prince was put to death by his brother Aurangzib¹, in reality, no doubt, because he was the eldest son and legitimate successor of Shah Jehân, but under the pretext that he was an infidel, and dangerous to the established religion of the empire.

**Contents and Sample Pages**