About this Book
The Heetopades Of Veeshnoo-Sarma, In a Series Of Connected Fables, Interspersed With Moral, Prudential And Political Maxims; Translated From An Ancient Manuscript In The Sanskreet Language. With Explanatory Notes,
By Charles Wilkins, Bath: Printed By R. Cruttwell, And Sold by C. Nourse, In The Strand, London. 1787. 8vo. Bound in contemporary calf, raised bands with six gilt compartments to spine, fwith a red morocco title label in gilt. The boards, possibly original (?), were rebacked with new spine at a later date. An exceptional, bright copy in very good+ condition internally, unmarked.
An increasingly rare First Edition of the first printing of the Hitopadesha, before William Carey’s India printing in Serampore from 1803 (see our listing). This is the second Sanskrit book translated directly into English, just two years after the seminal work of Wilkins in The Bhagvat Geeta from 1785 (see our copy for sale).
Attributed to Veeshnoo-Sarma, this foundational text of the Hindu society bears the hallmark of the mastery in Sanskrit literature, of teaching the public about morals through lively stories and poems. This particular text comprises of a collection of animal fables and moral tales designed to instruct on earthly wisdom, advice and good counsels. The word “Hitopadesha” comprises of two words – “Hito/ Hito:” meaning ‘Good’ and “Upadesha” meaning ‘Advice /Counsels’. The main text is divided into four sections: How to win friends, what causes losing friends, waging war and how to make peace.
