The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c24.73

v1.c24.73

He now began to apply himself to Telugu and Sanskrit. No European had previously studied the latter language 2. His teacher was a learned Brahman from Madura. In a letter dated April 22nd, 1609, Fr. de Nobili expresses to his Provincial his gratitude to that learned man. "I cannot express," he says, "all the obligation I am under to this excellent Brahman. Besides the knowledge of Sanskrit and Telugu, I owe him a knowledge still more precious: that of the most sacred mysteries of the Vedam. It is considered a crime for a Brahman to write down the Vedam; they only learn it by heart at the cost of incrediable fatigue, and it takes them ten or twelve consecutive years. My teacher has overcome his scruples on this point, which is a shining proof of his faith. He writes down all the laws for me; but this must be done quite secretly; if the Brahmans came to know of it, the least punishment inflicted on him would be the plucking out of his eyes. We spurn the danger because of the utmost necessity of this means: for on the knowledge of these secrets depends the conversion of the gentiles" 3. His assiduity in study was so great that Fr. Vico, one of his companions later on, affirms that de Nobili used to study whilst the barber was shaving him 4.