Page 13 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

10 SAMAGRA TILAK • THE ORION

who kindly undertook to explain to me the views of German
scholars in regard to certain passages from the Rigveda, and to
Khan Bahadur Dr. DasturHoshangJamaspfor the ready assistance
he gave in supplying information contained in the original
Parsi sacred books. I am also greatly indebted to Prof. Max Muller
for some valuable suggestions and critical comments on the
etymological evidence contained in the essay. I am, however,
alone responsible for all the views, suggestions, and statements
made in the following pages.
With these remarks I leave the book in the hands of critics,
fully relying upon the saying of the poet -

"': ~~(t ~ ~~: ~s~ ;u 1
" The fineness or the darkness of gold is best tested in fire. "
It is not iikely that my other engagements will permit me to devote
much time to this subject in future; and I shall consider myself
well rewarded if the present essay does in any way contribute to
a fuller and unprejudiced discussion of the high antiquity of the
Aryan civilisation, of which our sacred books are the oldest records
in the world.

Poona, -B. G. TILAK
October, 1893.