Besides this poem there are three others, called _Ràmàyana_, _Magha_, and _Bhagavada_, to which it has some affinity. They were all originally written in the Samscred language; but in various provinces they have been translated into the usual dialects of the country. The _Bhagavada_, which _Niebuhr_, in the second part of his Travels, calls _Sri baha gavant poram_, instead of _Shri Bhagavada puràna_, is so highly esteemed by the Indians, that when any one repeats a few verses to them from it, they immediately stand up and uncover their heads. On this subject I can relate the following anecdote from my own experience.--In the year 1787 I was obliged to appear before the tribunal of the king of Travancor, respecting an affair between me and four of his magistrates, who wished to compel me not to baptise any more Pagans. During this litigation, _Sampradi_ thought proper to put me to the test respecting my knowledge of the languages. I repeated to him the four first verses of the above-mentioned _Bhagavada_; upon which the three magistrates, with all their assistants, rose up, gazed at me with every mark of astonishment, and treated me with much more civility than before. I gained my cause; and can with truth assert, that these four verses of the _Bhagavada_, which I have explained in my Samscred grammar, chiefly contributed to the fortunate issue of the business. I had once an opportunity of making a similar observation at _Vaipur_. Having gone to that place with a view of examining into the state of the church accounts, I was one day invited to dinner by a _Mapulla_, or Christian of St. Thomas. Some of this man’s neighbours, of the same religion, had spread a report among the inhabitants that I understood the Samscred; upon which I received a visit from two learned Pagans, who were desirous of trying how far my knowledge extended. I caused them to sit down, after the Malabar manner, on a small bench; and when they had repeated to me a great many verses from various poems, I began to recite the above lines from the _Bhagavada_. Scarcely had I pronounced the first words, when they started from their seats, uncovered their heads, and laid the right hand on their mouth, in order to shew their veneration for that book. By these means I acquired so much reputation among the Pagans, that on every occasion they treated me with the utmost respect.