Voltaire acquired this manuscript from the chevalier de Maudave in 1760 and presented it to the Bibliothèque de roi (now the Bibliothèque nationale de France) in August 1761. The text is a commentary on the Vedas, though rather than being a precious authentic text as Voltaire imagined, it was composed by Jesuits in Pondicherry. He inscribed a title page (f.iir) outlining what he knew and believed about the manuscript and its history.
f.[i] Notice sur le Zozur Bedo et sur sa traduction par Mr Court de Gebelin
f.[ii] Title page in Voltaire’s hand: ‘L’Ezour-védam ou ancien commentaire du védam traduit de la langue du hanscrit par un Brame de Bénares correspondant de la compagnie des indes […]. This appears to have been written on a pre-existing blank page.
The chevalier de Maudave brought the manuscript from India to France in 1759, and gave it to Voltaire in 1760. Voltaire then gave it to what was to become the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
D. S. Hawley, ‘L’Inde de Voltaire’, SVEC 120 (1974), p.139-78.
Voltaire, ‘Ezourvédam’ (ed. O. Ferret) in Questions sur l’Encyclopédie (ed. N. Cronk and Ch. Mervaud) in OCV, vol.41, p.310-311.
L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV37415
Repository:
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France
Shelfmark:
NAF 452
Title:
L’Ézour-Védam, ou ancien commentaire du Védam
Collection(s):
No related collections found.
Related record(s):
The record for this volume in the Library of Voltaire.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Visit Archive Catalogue
Link to Digital Resource:
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OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Zozur est un mot des Langues du Gentoo, et composé du mot Zo contre & du mot Zur poison.
Incipit Modernised:
Zozur est un mot des langues du Gentou, et composé du mot Zo contre et du mot Zur poison.
Language(s):
French
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Partly
Brief Summary:
Voltaire acquired this manuscript from the chevalier de Maudave in 1760 and presented it to the Bibliothèque de roi (now the Bibliothèque nationale de France) in August 1761. The text is a commentary on the Vedas, though rather than being a precious authentic text as Voltaire imagined, it was composed by Jesuits in Pondicherry. He inscribed a title page (f.iir) outlining what he knew and believed about the manuscript and its history.
Detailed Summary:
Keyword(s):
Vedas
Genre(s):
Commentary, Translation
Status:
Original
Physical Description
Material(s):
Ink on paper
Extent:
35 ff.
Format:
Folio
Dimensions:
Hands:
4
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
Cardboard
Additional Comments:
This volume contains four items:
Materiality Keywords:
Additional Paper, Ink Splatter, Library Stamp, Smudge
Decorations:
Additions:
Marginalia Keywords:
Additional text
Inclusions:
History
Date:
14 August 1761
Ownership:
Origin (transcript):
Origin:
Pondicherry, India
Provenance:
The chevalier de Maudave brought the manuscript from India to France in 1759, and gave it to Voltaire in 1760. Voltaire then gave it to what was to become the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
D. S. Hawley, ‘L’Inde de Voltaire’, SVEC 120 (1974), p.139-78.
Voltaire, ‘Ezourvédam’ (ed. O. Ferret) in Questions sur l’Encyclopédie (ed. N. Cronk and Ch. Mervaud) in OCV, vol.41, p.310-311.
OCV Reference:
OCV Manuscript Reference:
Record created by:
Record created on: