A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c6.199

c6.199

¹ That the principal part of the Mahâbhârata belongs to a period previous to the political establishment of Buddhism, has been proved by Prof. Lassen, Ind. Ant. i. 489—491. Much has been said since to controvert his views with regard to the age of the Mahâbhârata, but nothing that is really valuable has been added to Prof. Lassen's facts or reasonings. "It is not at all difficult," as Prof. Lassen remarks, "to look at this question from one single point of view, and to start a confident assertion. But in doing this, many persons commit themselves to inconsiderate judgments, and show an ignorance of the very points which have to be considered."