Vedic Hymns

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. It is well known that Professor von Roth, one of our most eminent Vedic scholars, holds the very opposite Opinion. He declares that a metrical translation is the best com mentary, and that if he could ever think of a translation of the Rig-veda, he would throw the chief weight, not on the notes, but on the translation of the text. 'a translation,' he writes, 'must speak for itself. AS a rule, it only re quires a commentary where it is not directly convincing, and where the translator does not feel secure.' Between Opinions so diametrically opposed, no com promise seems possible, and yet I feel convinced that when we come to discuss any controverted passage, Professor von Roth will have to adopt exactly the same principles of translation which I have followed.