The Indian king _Pandu_, of the race of those who deduced their origin from the Sun, had five sons, called _Yudhishtira_, _Bhìma_ or _Bhimasèna_, _Argiuna_, _Naghala_, and _Sahadeva_. These five brothers, who are known under the name of _Pando_ or _Pandava_, had their court at _Kanudi_, or _Hastinapuri_. The inhabitants of that district are mentioned in Arrian under the appellation of _Assaceni_, or _Astaceni_, and act a very conspicuous part in the Grecian as well as Indian history. The period of their existence falls about the time when Semiramis ruled over the Assyrians. These five _Pando_ were expelled from their possessions by their cousins the _Curu_, or _Caurava_, who together formed a hundred brothers, and who behaved to them with great cruelty. While they were wandering about as fugitives, _Krishna_, or the Indian Apollo, appeared to them; declared himself their protector and fought a desperate battle with the two principal leaders of the _Caurava_, who were called _Suyodhana_, or _Duryodhana_, and _Karna_. When he had overcome them, he restored to the _Pando_ the possessions taken from them. Such is the subject of this beautiful poem. The sixth part of the manuscript, which I have now in my hands, contains 125 _shloga_; and the whole consists of eight such parts. The Samscred text is exceedingly difficult; and it requires great knowledge of that language to be able to understand it completely. The best helps for that purpose are the grammar; the dictionary _Amarasinha_, and the perusal of some other poems; but as there are a few only among the Brahmans who study such works, it is rare to find any of them who comprehend the true meaning of these _shloga_. It is certain, however, that the _Yudhishtira-vigea_ appears to be a poem of great antiquity. It does not make the least mention of the worshipping of human figures and idols; for this kind of superstition was certainly posterior to the introduction of the planetary worship, and had its origin about 700 years before the birth of Christ. Prior to that epoch, Sabæism was the prevailing religion in India. For this reason no other deities occur in the _Yudhishtira_, but _Shiva_ and _Parvadi_; that is, the god of the Sun, and the goddess of the Moon; and no other offerings than fruit or flowers, which were presented to these deities.