Query on translation of "anushAsana-parvan"

[Luis Gonzalez-Reimann]

At 07:33 PM 11/13/96 GMT, James Fitzgerald wrote:

>
>> M.N. Dutt's translation is useful, especially because he gives verse numbers
>> (not from the critical edition, of course).  Actually, Roy's translation is
>> largely based on Dutt's.
>
>It is the other way around.  The Ganguli/Roy translation began publication
>in 1884 (according to Winternitz, 1972 Oriental Books Reprint of his
>History of Indian Literature, vol. 1, p. 327, nt. 1) and is a serious and
>scholarly translation, though far from perfect.  M. N. Dutt's rendition
>began to appear in 1895, and it is hard to avoid the impression that it is
>anything but a slight rewording, verse after verse after verse, of
>Ganguli's efforts.


I stand corrected!  I had noticed the obvious similarity of both
translations, but assumed (incorrectly, as I now learned) that Dutt's was
the earliest.

>Some of the older editions, and some reprints, of the Ganguli/Roy
>translation do contain verse numbers and Ganguli's notes.  The "third
>improved edition:  January, 1975" of Munshiram Manorharlal's vol. VIII,
>contains notes.  I can't remember which editions contained the sloka
>numbers. 

I was not aware of this.  The editions of Roy/Ganguli I have used do not
have verse numbers.



>I have never found the slightest glimmer of a difference in the
>interpretation of a difficult pada between Dutt's rendering and Ganguli's. 
>Dutt often uses slightly different words, but I have never seen an
>instance where he offers a different understanding.  Of course I stopped
>consulting Dutt's rendition long ago; perhaps there is more value in it
>than I saw. 

I can offer an example of a verse where the two translations differ, and in
which I think Dutt's is better.

Ganguli/Roy (vol. 10:566, Oriental Publishing Co. ed., no date):
"Upon the expiration of Dwapara, the Yuga that will set in will be called
Kali yuga which will come under the influence of Tishya constellation."

Dutt 12.341.81:
"Upon the termination of Dwapara, the cycle that will set in will be called
Tish, and it will come with Kali walking in the van."

My translation of CE 12.327.76a:
"Then, when the TiSya [Kali] yuga arrives preceded by misfortune/conflict
(kali)..."



Luis Gonzalez-Reimann
University of California, Berkeley