Indian Antiquary Vol 01

SR No.: 032493
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[APRIL 5, 1872.
THE LATE PROFESSOR GOLDSTÜCKER. It is with deep regret that we have to chronicle We cannot part from his Dictionary, carried as the death of Professor Theodor Goldstücker, which it is only to the first letter of the Sanskrit Alphabet, sad event occurred at his house, 14 St. George's- without characterizing it as it truly deserves, as an square, Primrose Hill, London, on 6th March. This encyclopædia of Sanskrit lore. But though his eininent Sanskrit scholar was of Jewish parentage, lexicographical labours are those by which he and was born at Königsberg in the early part of the will be best remembered, still his studies were century, being at his death somewhere about 58 not confined to Sanskrit philology. His knowledge years old-for on careful enquiry we find that none of medicine, especially of Hindu medicine, is eviof his friends accurately knew his age, and the denced by the remarkable collection of notes to be excessive labour to which he subjected his wiry found in his copy of Susruta's work, and his article frame gave him a premature look of being older on Indian Epic Poetry, written for the Westminster than he really was.
Review in 1868, was another brilliant effort of his His university career was at Bonn, and among genius. His pamphlet on the method of dealing his distinguished rivals was the eminent scholar with Indian appeals on questions of Hindu law, Westergaard. He subsequently qualified for the shows another phase of his many-sided mind; and Professorial career at Berlin. This ended, he moved it is known that he rendered valuable services to the to Paris, where he enjoyed the inestimable privilege Privy Council on abstruse points of Indian jurisof the friendship of the distinguished Eugene prudence. Burnouf. So far back as 1839, we find some of the It has been stated that he has "left instructions fruits of his Oriental studies in an article on the that every scrap of his vast possessions, the labour introductory stanzas of the Ainara Kosha, which of so many years, shall be burned." This we believe appeared in Die Zeitschrift fur die kunde des Mor- to be entirely unfounded, no will having been genlandes, a periodical widely known through the
found. His nearest and only relative is a half able editing of Prof. Christian Lassen. This might
brother-Dr. William Tobias, of Berlin. Le looked upon as a forerunner of the great Lexico
Professor Goldstücker was a man of private for graphical work he was afterwards to undertake.
tune, and occupied the chair of Sanskrit in UniverHis earliest separate work is a translation of the
sity College, London, more with a view of giving an allegorical, or as he styled it, the theologico-phi- impulse to the study of that ancient tongue than for losophical drama' PRABODHA CHANDBODAYA," the any personal profit. At the time of his death ProMoon of Intellect." This appeared in 1842 with a
fessor Goldstücker was President of the Philological preface from his learned friend Professor Karl Society, a member of the Council of the Royal Rosenkrantz. Years ago he announced his intention Asiatic Society, &c. &c. His chief characteristics of publishing the Mahabharata in a German dress. were, a generosity seldom witnessed in the world, This intention, so far as the MS. was concerned, was, fearlessness in the assertion of what he felt to be we believe, nearly completed at the time, though right, and an honest scorn of anything approachno part of the translation has ever been printed. ing to humbug or sham. In looking back at his
The accidental discovery, in the India Office active career, we find an excessive zeal for absolute Library, of a MS. of the Mânava Kalpa Sutra, a
accuracy of statement was a principal cause of his rare and valuable work on the Vedic ritual, led to his
leaving behind him so inu ch unfinished work. His preparing a splendid Introduction to the publication of a fac-simile of the manuscript, and which was
kindness to novices in philological study was prosubsequently published separately under the title of verbial : his vast stores of knowledge were ever at
Panini and his place in Sanskrit Literature.' the disposal of any one who showed a tolerably His later works, apart from the enormous labour
fair claim to their use. In politics he was a liberal: bestowed on a revised edition of Wilson's Sanskrit
" in private life he was a model of honour and truth Dictionary, consists of some five parts of the Jaimi
and a firm and generous friend." niya Nyâya Målå Vistara, -the principal work of the Mimansa philosophy. This, as well as the Diction
On the 9th of February he wrote promising to ary, is left incomplete by his sudden demise.
contribute to the Indian Antiquiry ; but the news It is alleged that this worthy scholar has left of his death reached India before the letter. "An behind him but slight memorials of his extraordinary attack of bronchitis, at first neglected, then treated powers; this is perhaps partly owing to his almost
by himself, till medical aid-at last called infanatic desire to state only the naked truth, and
was of no avail," has deprived us of this great partly to an extremne fastidiousness for elegant
master of Sanskrit scholarship. His loss will be forms of expression. This he carried to such & degree that though he read many papers before the
felt in all the intellectual centres of the world. Royal Asiatic Society, not one of them was ever
C. MATHER. allowed to appear in its Journal.
London, 8 March 1872.