[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Histoire de la dernière révolution des États du Grand Mogol](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier) › [Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable) › 6.7 # Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 6.7 Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 6.7 - **Language:** English ### [6.7.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7.1) Other Pendets again gave me a more refined interpretation. They said that the incarnations or apparitions mentioned in their books, having a mystic sense, and being intended to explain the various attributes of God, ought not to be understood literally. Some of the most learned of those Doctors frankly acknowledged to me that nothing can be conceived more fabulous than all the incarnations, and that they were only the invention of legislators for the sake of retaining the people in some sort of religion. On the supposition that our souls are portions of the deity, a doctrine common to all Gentiles, must not (observed the Pendets) the reality of those incarnations, instead of being made a mysterious part of religion, be exploded by sound philosophy? for, in respect of our souls, we are God, and therefore it would in fact be ourselves who had imposed upon ourselves a religious worship, and a belief in the transmigration of souls, in paradise, and in hell, — which would be absurd. ### [6.7.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7.2) I am not less indebted to Messieurs Henry Lor and Abraham Roger than to the Reverend Fathers Kirker and I had collected a vast number of particulars concerning the Gentiles, that I have since found in the books written by those gentlemen, and which I could not have arranged in the order which they have observed without great labour and difficulty. It is not necessary, therefore, that I could do more than touch briefly on the studies and the science of this people ; which I shall do in a general and desultory manner. ### [6.7.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7.3) The town of Benares, seated on the Ganges, in a beautiful situation, and in the midst of an extremely fine and rich country, may be considered the general school of the Gentiles. It is the Athens of India, whither resort the Brahmens and other devotees ; who are the only persons who apply their minds to study. The town contains no colleges or regular classes, as in our universities, but resembles rather the schools of the ancients ; the masters being dispersed over different parts of the town in private houses, and principally in the gardens of the suburbs, which the rich merchants permit them to occupy. Some of these masters have four disciples, others six or seven, and the most eminent may have twelve or fifteen; but this is the largest number. It is usual for the pupils to remain ten or twelve years under their respective preceptors, during which time the work of instruction proceeds but slowly; for the generality of them are of an indolent disposition, owing, in a great measure, to their diet and the heat of the country. Feeling no spirit of emulation, and entertaining no hope that honours or emolument may be the reward of extraordinary attainments, as with us, the scholars pursue the studies slowly, and without much to distract their attention, while eating their kitchery, a mingled mess of vegetables supplied to them by the care of rich merchants of the place. ### [6.7.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7.4) The first thing taught is the Sanscrit, a language known only to the Pendets, and totally different from that which is ordinarily spoken in Hindoustan. It is of the Sanscrit that Father Kirker has published an alphabet, which he received from Father Roa. The name signifies 'pure language;' and because the Gentiles believe that the four sacred books given to them by God, through the medium of Brahma, were originally published in Sanscrit, they call it the holy and divine language. They pretend that it is as ancient as Brahma himself, whose age they reckon by lecques, or hundreds of thousands of years, but I could not rely upon this marvellous age. That it is extremely old, however, it is impossible to deny, the books of their religion, which are of unquestionable antiquity, being all written in Sanscrit. It has also its authors on philosophy, works on medicine written in verse, and many other kinds of books, with which a large hall at Benares is entirely filled. ### [6.7.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7.5) When they have acquired a knowledge of Sanscrit, which to them is difficult, because without a really good grammar, they generally study the Purane, which is an abridgment and interpretation of the Beths; those books being of great bulk, at least if they were the Beths which were shown to me at Benares. They are so scarce that my Agah, notwithstanding all his diligence, has not succeeded in purchasing a copy. The Gentiles indeed conceal them with much care, lest they should fall into the hands of the Mahometans, and be burnt, as frequently has happened. After the Purane, some of the students apply their minds to philosophy, wherein they certainly make very little progress. I have already intimated that they are of a slow and indolent temper, and strangers to the excitement which the possibility of advancement in an honourable profession produces among the members of European universities. Among the philosophers who have flourished in Hindoustan six bear a great name; and from these have sprung the six sects, which cause much jealousy and dispute, the Pendets of each pretending that the doctrines of their particular sect are the soundest, and most in conformity to the Beths. A seventh sect has arisen, called Baut, which again is the parent of twelve others; but this sect is not so considerable as the former: its adherents are despised and hated, censured as irreligious and atheistical, and lead a life peculiar to themselves. ### [6.7.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7.6) All their sacred books speak of first principles; but each in a manner totally different from the others. Some say that everything is composed of small bodies which are indivisible, not by reason of their solidity, hardness, and resistance, but because of their smallness; and upon this notion they build many other hypotheses, which have an affinity to the theories of Democritus and Epicurus; but their opinions are expressed in so loose and indeterminate a manner that it is difficult to ascertain their meaning; and considering the extreme ignorance of the Pendets, those even reputed the most learned, it may be fairly doubted whether this vagueness be not rather attributable to the expounders than to the authors of the books. Others say that everything is composed of matter and form, but not one of the doctors explains himself clearly about matter, and still less about form. They are so far intelligible, however, as to show me that they understand neither the one nor the other in the same manner as these terms are usually explained in our Schools, where we speak of educing form out of the power of matter; for they always take their examples from material objects, such as that of a vessel of soft clay, which a potter turns and forms into various shapes. ### [6.7.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7.7) Some hold that all is composed of the four elements and out of nothing; yet they give not the least explanation concerning commingling and transmutation. And as to 'nothing,' which is nearly tantamount to our privation, they admit I know not how many sorts, which I imagine the Pendets neither comprehend themselves, nor can make intelligible to others. Some maintain that light and darkness are the first principles, and in support of this opinion they make a thousand foolish and confused observations; alleging reasons disowned by true philosophy, and delivering long discourses which would suit the ear only of the vulgar and illiterate. There are others again who admit privation as a principle, or rather the privations which they distinguish from nothing, and of which they make a long enumeration, so useless and unphilosophical that I can scarcely believe their authors would employ the pen about such trifling opinions, and that consequently it cannot be contained in their books. Many, in fine, pretend that everything is the result of fortuitous circumstances, and of these they also have a long, strange, and tedious catalogue, worthy only of an ignorant and low babbler. In regard to all these principles, it is agreed by the Pendets that they are eternal. The production from nothing does not seem to have occurred to their mind, any more than to the mind of many of the ancient philosophers. There is one of the sages, however, who, they pretend, has said something on the subject. ### [6.7.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7.8) On physic they have a great number of small books, which are rather collections of recipes than regular treatises. The most ancient and the most esteemed is written in verse. I shall observe, by the way, that their practice differs essentially from ours, and that it is grounded on the following acknowledged principles : a patient with a fever requires no great nourishment; the sovereign remedy for sickness is abstinence ; nothing is worse for a sick body than meat broth, for it soon corrupts in the stomach of one afflicted with fever ; a patient should be bled only on extraordinary occasions, and where the necessity is most obvious— as when there is reason to apprehend a brain fever, or when an inflammation of the chest, liver, or kidneys, has taken place. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.7) · Pramāṇa