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28 Works of Pandit Guru Datta Vidyarthi
of the Vedas, whence have arisen serious mistakes in their
translations of the Vedas. We have also seen how Dr. Muir, falling
in the same mistake interprets general terms as proper nouns; and
how Max Muller also led by the same error, wrongly divides the
Vedas into two parts; the
Chhandas
and
Mantras.
We have also seen
how due to the
ignorance
of the same law,
Mantras
upon
Mantras
have been interpreted as mythological in meaning, whereas some
few
Mantras
could only be interpreted philosophically, thus giving
rise to the question of reconciling philosophy with mythology. To
further illustrate the importance of the proposition, that all Vedic
terms are
yaugika,
I herewith subjoin the true translation of the 4th
Mantra
of the 50th Sukta of 1st Mandal of Rig Veda with my
comments thereon and the translation of the same by Monier
Williams for comparison. Surya, as a
yaugika
word, means both the
sun and the Divinity. Monier Williams takes it to represent the sun
only. Other terms will become explicit in the course of exposition.
The
Mantra
runs as follows:-
It ui keigq Qicr.pqro
vi
i
14wrieg
%wis p
The subject is the gorgeous wonders of the solar and the
electric worlds. A grand problem is here propounded in this
Mantra.
Who is here that is not struck with the multiplicity of objects and
appearances? Who that has not lost thought itself in contemplation
of the infinite varieties that inhabit even our own planet? Even the
varieties of plant life have not yet been counted. The number of
animal and plant species together with the vast number of mineral
compounds may truly be called infinite. But why confine ourselves
to this earth alone. Who has counted the host of heavens and the
infinity of stars, the innumerable number of worlds yet made and still
remaining to be made? What mortal eye can measure and scan the
depths of space? Light travels at the rate of 180,000 miles per second.
There are stars from which rays of light have started on their journey
ever since the day of creation, hundreds of millions of years ago, the
rays have sped on and on with the unearthly velocity of 180,000
miles per second through space, and have only now penetrated into
the atmosphere of our earth. Imagine the infinite depth of space with