Historical Works
[Preliminary Entry] Tarjuma-yi śāstra is a Persian translation of the Purāṇaratha parakāśa, a work on Hindu chronology and cosmogony, Hindu śāstras, and the genealogies of Hindu kings. The original work in Sanskrit was written by Pandit Rādhākanta Tarkavākyas for the governor-general Warren Hastings in 1784. This book was translated into Persian by Zurāvar Siṅgh in 1786 at the instance of the same Warren Hastings. It consists of a preface, an epilogue, and six chapters or abwāb, including: (i) on the number of Indian eras; (ii) on the understanding of Brahma (brahma-nirupāna); (iii) on the truth of every śāstra; (iv) on the truth of every religion (maḏhab); (v) on the nature of the world and other things; and (vi) on the history of rajas.
S. Kh.
v) Information on colophon; vi) Description of miniatures/illustrations; vii) Other remarks; viii) Information on catalogue(s)
London, British Library, India Office, 1184, 54 ff.
, ii)1786
, iv) Warren Hastings, vii)All the Sanskrit words in the text are marked on the margine in Devangari characters.
The Sanskrit text in Bangali characters is preserved in British Museum, Or. 1124.
, viii)
Ethé 1980, pp. 1114-1115, Nr. 2003
.London, British Library, India Office, 458, 69 ff.
, vii)The six bābs are found on ff. 5a, 13b-14b, 18b-20b, and 44b respectively; the ḫātima is on f. 65a.
The date of the composition of the Sanskrit original, viz. 1706 of the Saka era, is found on f. 66a.
, viii)Ethé 1980, p. 1115, Nr. 2004
.Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Library, 328, 25 ff.
, ii)1189/1775
, iv) Warren Hastings, vii)This copy is an abridgment of the Purāṇarathaśāstra.
, viii)Hukk - et.al. 1925, pp. 293-294, Nr. 328
.London, British Library, British Museum, Add. 5655, 27 ff.
, ii)rabī‘ al-awwal 1192/1784
, iv) Warren Hastings, vii)The margins contain notes in the handwriting of Mr. Halhed who translated the Persian version of the book.
, viii)Rieu 1879, p. 63
.English translation: Halhed, ed., London, british Library, British Museum, Add. 5657, ff. 163-194.
Ethé, Herman, 1980, Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the India Office Library, London, India Office Library, pp. 1114-1115.
Hukk, Mohammed Ashraful - Ethé, Hermann - Robertson, Edward, 1925, A descriptive Catalogue of the Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Edinburgh University Library, Hertford, pp. 293-294.
Mujtabai, Fathullah, 1978, Aspects of Hindu-Muslim Cultural Relations, New Delhi, National Book Bureau, p. 87.
Rieu, Charles, 1879, Catalogue of the Persian Manuscripts in the British Museum, London, vol. 1., pp. 63b-64a.
Ernst, Carl W., 2003, "Muslim Studies of Hinduism? A Reconsideration of Arabic and Persian Translations from Indian Languages", Iranian Studies, 36, 2, pp. 173-195, p. 188.
| Main Persian Title: | Tarjuma-yi śāstra |
| English Translation of Main Persian Title: | Translation of shastra |
| Year / Period of Composition: | 1786 |
| Incipit: | پرم ایشوری را از صدق اعتقاد پرنام می کنم که بصورت برهما و بشن و شیو نمودار شده-الخ |
| Commissioner: | governor-general Warren Hastings |