THE DABISTÁN, OR SCHOOL OF MANNERS. MADAME VEUVE DONDEY-DUPRÉ, Printer to the Asiatic Societies of London, Paris, and Calcutta. 46, rue St-Louis, Paris. THE DABISTÁN, OR SCHOOL OF MANNERS, TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL PERSIAN, WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, BY DAVID SHEA, OF THE ORIENTAL DEPARTMENT IN THE HONORABLE EAST INDIA COMPANY’S COLLEGE; AND ANTHONY TROYER, MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETIES OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, OF CALCUTTA AND PARIS, AND OF THE ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF PARIS; EDITED, WITH A PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, BY THE LATTER. VOLUME II. PARIS: PRINTED FOR THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. SOLD BY BENJAMIN DUPRAT, BOOKSELLER TO THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE ROYALE. 7, RUE DU CLOITRE SAINT-BENOIT. AND ALLEN AND CO., LEADENHALL-STREET, LONDON. 1843. THE DABISTÁN, OR SCHOOL OF MANNERS. CHAPTER II. THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE DABISTAN describes in twelve sections the religious systems of the Hindus: _Section_ 1. Concerning the tenets of the _Búdah-Mímánsa_, the followers of which are also called _Samártikan_ (_Smártís_), or “legalists,” and are orthodox Hindus. _Sect._ 2. Records some of their opinions relative to the creation: their _Purans_ (_Tarikhs_), or “histories,” treat of the same subject. _Sect._ 3. The religious ceremonies and acts of the _Smártís_, and their orthodoxy. _Sect._ 4. Treats of the followers of the _Vedanta_, who form the philosophers and Súfís of this sect. _Sect._ 5. Concerning those who profess the _Sankhya_ doctrines. _Sect._ 6. Treats of the _Jogís_ and their doctrines. _Sect._ 7. Describes the tenets of the _Saktíán_. _Sect._ 8. The opinions and ceremonies of the worshippers of _Vishnú_. _Sect._ 9. Treats of the _Chárvákián_. _Sect._ 10. Describes the system of the _Tárkikán_, who are profound investigators and deep thinkers in theology. _Sect._ 11. On the tenets held by the followers of _Búdah_ (_Buddha_). _Sect._ 12. On various religious systems professed by the people of India. * * * * * SECTION THE FIRST――CONCERNING THE ORTHODOX HINDOO SYSTEM. As inconstant fortune had torn away the author from the shores of Persia, and made him the associate of the believers in transmigration and those who addressed their prayers to idols and images and worshipped demons, therefore the tenets held by this most subtle class of reasoners come to be considered next after those of the Parsees. It is however necessary to premise, that among the Hindus there are many systems of religion, and innumerable creeds and ceremonies: but there is one principal class of this people (as will be shown in the tenth chapter), and its rank and dignity will be brought into evidence.