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shortcomings in the interpretations of scholars like Max Muller and
Monier Williams. Guru Datta was of the opinion that these western
writers were ignorant of the Vedic terminology, language and
philosophy. Schopenhauer too has commented on the ability of
these writers. "I cannot resist a certain supspicion that our Sanskrit
scholars do not understand their text much better than the higher
class of school boys their Greek or Latin" says he. Rishi Dayananda
has written in no uncertain words that "the impression that the
Germans are the best Sanskrit scholars, and that no one has read so
much of Sanskrit as Professor Max Muller, is altogether unfounded.
Yes, in a land where lofty trees never grow, even
ricinus communis
or the castor-oil plant may be called an oak. This study of Sanskrit
being altogether out of question in Europe, the Germans and
Professor Max Muller may there have come to be regarded as highest
authorities".
Both these articles are invaluable, not only for their literary and
scholastic merit but also because of their importance in the realm of
religious discourse. Guru Datta was a vanguard of Vedic religion
as he dealt with the onslaught of western scholars in their own
language, much like Rishi Dayananda, whose
Veda-Bhashya
had
rescued the Vedas from our very own
Pandits. Rishi's
original works
were limited to Hindi and Sanskrit and therefore, were mostly
inaccessible to the westerners. Guru Datta presented his teacher's
philosophy in English and thus opened a new door for the western
scholars. And a door it was to the true image of the Indian land.
The essays by Pandit Guru Datta were sent to scholars in India and
abroad. Upon reading these, the Englishman Frederick Pincott
wrote, "There must be very few Indians capable of writing such
idiomatic scholarly English; and it is great pleasure to me to find
myself in communication with so thoughtful and studious a
gentleman as yourself. My friend informs me that you are young
and I am glad to hear that, for with your industry and attainments
you may live to do much good to the cause of enlightenment of
India Your present paper shows a large amount of reading
and much original thought. ..... You do much good by impressing
on your readers that the terms used in the Vedas are
yaugika.
The
best interpretation of the Vedas is secured by taking the words in
their natural sense as used at the time the books were promulgated, as
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