The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c24.139

v1.c24.139

Finally, another unexpected circumstance drew to Fr. de Nobili the attention of his audience. “What helps me very much in the conversion of these people”, says he in a letter of December 24th, 1608, “is the fact I discovered, that they had originally four Vedas; three which the Brahmans still teach, viz. of Vesmu (Vishnu), Brama (Brahma) and Rutru (Siva), and a fourth, wholly spiritual, by which salvation was to be attained. They say, however, that this fourth Veda is lost, and there is no man wise and good enough to recover it. And the wisest of their men state likewise that the most secret books affirm it to be impossible to attain salvation by any of the other three laws. Hence many think that there is no salvation at all, and others suppose that there is nothing beyond this life. From this I take occasion to show them that they are in a fatal error from which, as they themselves confess, none of their three Vedas can save them. I prove this to them with the very sayings of their books. These people have a deep yearning for eternal life; hence they are much inclined to do penance and to give alms, and to be very faithful to their idols. So I profit by this disposition to tell them that if they wish to be saved, they ought to listen to me; that I have come from a far-off country simply to save them by teaching them that spiritual law which (as their Brahmans avow) has been lost—thus following the example of the Apostle who preached to the Athenians the Unknown God. I tell them that if they wish to apprehend this fourth law, they ought to declare themselves my disciples. Their conversion becomes then very easy. For when they resolve to become my disciples, they easily receive from me the doctrine I preach to them; and thus their being inclined in my favour, they gladly come to hear my explanations”².