পাতা:হিতোপদেশঃ.pdf/২১

שי "Calaileg and Damnag, is probably taken from the Arabic, though purport. ‘’ing to be derived immediately from the Indian text. The Turkish versions (for there are more than one) have been derived mediately or immediately from the Arabic ; and several Latin and Italian translations have been drawn from the Greek of SETHus; not to mention another Latin one from the Hebrew, nor the German and Spanish versions from the Latin and the ftalian. All these, as well as the French translation of GAULMIN, David SAID, GALLAND and CARDONNE, from the Persian Calilah u Damnáh, and from the Turkish Huméyén némeh and Anwāri Suhailá, as also the English version from the French, appear to have been compared with considerable attention by various persons : but, excepting two unfaithful imitations in Latin and Italian, the general correspondence of the rest seems to be acknowledged.* We may conclude, therefore, that the Persian Calilah u Damnah, and Ayūr dánish, exhibit a sufficiently exact representation of the Arabic translation from the Pehlevá and that, after rejecting avowed additions, we ought to find there a near resemblance to the Indian original. From a careful collation of both Sanskrit works with the genuine parts of the Persian translation, it is evident, as has been already shown, that the Panchatantra corresponds best with them : and there can be little hesitation in pronouncing this to be the original text of the work, which was procured from India by Nu'sun'RvA'N more than twelve hundred years ago. This fact is not without importance in the general history of Indian literature ; since it may serve to establish the greater antiquity of authors who are quoted in the Panchatantra ; and amongst others, that of the celebrated astrologer WABA'HA MIIIIRA, who is cited by name in one passage of the first chapter. . The Hitopadesa, containing nearly the same fables told more conciscly and in a different order, has been translated into Persian, in comparatively recent times, by Maulaví TA’ju’DDı'n, who entitled it Mfuferrehu’lkulu'b ; and who does not appear, from his preface, to have been aware, that the work, translated by him, was any way sonnected with the Calilah u Damnah. This, as well as the Hindí version of it, by Már BEHA’DUR ALI', which has been printed for the use of the College of Fort William, and which is entitled Akhlāki Hindi, may afford some help to a student, reading the Hitopades'a, for his first exercise in the Sanskrit language. He will find still more effectual assistance in the English translations by Sir ● * See Bibliotheca Græca of Fabricius, vol. vi. p. 460, and vol. x. p. 324 ; bibliothèque Orientale of d'Herbelot, pp. 1118, 206, 245, 399, and 456; Works of Sir W. Jones, vol. vi. p. 4; and As. Res, vol. i. p. 429; also Wilkins's Heetopades, preface, p. xiii.