To the right honourable the Marquis of Salisbury, kg. Chancellor of the university of Oxford, lately secretary of state for  India, Sir  Henry J. S. Maine, k.os.i. member of the council of India,  and the very rev. H. G. Liddell, dd.  Dean of Christ C hurch, to whose kind interest and exertions this attempt to make known to the english people the sacred books of the east  is so largely indebted, I  now dedicate these volumes with sincere respect and gratitude,
F.MAX MÜLLER.