The Bhagavadgîtâ, with the Sanatsugâtîya and the Anugîtâ — SBE Vol. 8 (trans. K. T. Telang, 1882)
The translator’s English as printed (K. T. Telang). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
| Fe highest perfection. Hear (them) from me, O Ganârdana !
The Siddha said:
Mortals, O dear friend! by their actions which are (of) mixed (character), or which are meritorious and pure, attain to this world as the goal, or to residence in the world of the gods*. Nowhere is there everlasting happiness; nowhere eternal residence*. Over and over again is there a downfall from a high position attained with difficulty. Overcome by lust and anger, and deluded by desire, I fell into uncomfortable and harassing states (of life), in consequence of (my) committing sin. Again and again death, and again and again birth’. I ate numerous (kinds of) food, sucked at various breasts, saw various mothers, and fathers of different sorts; and, O sinless one! (I saw) strange pleasures and miseries. Frequently (I suffered) separation from those I loved, association with those I did not love. Loss of wealth also came on me, after I had acquired that wealth with difficulty; ignominies full of affliction from princes and likewise from kinsmen ; excessively poignant pain, mental and bodily. 1 also underwent frightful indignities, and fierce deaths and captivities; (I had a) fall into hell, and torments in the house of Yama’. lalso suffered much from old age, continual ailments, and numerous misfortunes flowing from the pairs of opposites*.. Then on one occasion, being much afflicted with misery, I abandoned the whole course of worldly life, through indifference (to worldly objects), and taking refuge with the formless (principle)*.. Having learnt about this path in this world, I exercised myself (in it), and hence, through favour of the self”, have I acquired this perfection*.. I shall not come here again*.; I am surveying the worlds, and the happy migrations of (my) self from the creation of beings to (my attaining) perfection. Thus, O best of the twice-born! have I obtained this highest perfection. From here I go to the next (world), and from there again to the still higher (world)-—the imperceptible seat of the Brahman. Have no doubt on that, O terror of your foes*! I shall not come back to this mortal world. I am pleased with you, O you of great intelligence ! Say, what can I do for you? The time is now come for that which you desired in coming to me, I know for what you have come to me. But I shall be going away in a short time, hence have I given this hint to you. I am exceedingly pleased, O clever one! with your good conduct. Put (your) questions without uneasiness, I will tell (you) whatever you desire. I highly esteem your intelligence, and greatly respect it, inasmuch as you have made me out*; for, O Kâśyapa! you are (a) talented (man).
1 The same word as at Gita, p. 72.
2 Cf, Khândogya-upanishad, pp. 356-359, and Gita, p. 84.
3 See Gita, p. 76, and cf. Kaṭha, p. go. For the whole of this passage, cf. Maitri-upanishad, p. 8. > See Manu VI, 61. 6 See Gita, p. 48.
The highest perfection. Hear them from me, O Janârdana!
The Siddha said:
Mortals, dear friend, attain through their actions—which are of mixed character, or which are meritorious and pure—either this world as their goal, or residence in the world of the gods*. Nowhere is there everlasting happiness; nowhere eternal residence*. Again and again there is a fall from a high position won with great difficulty. Overcome by lust and anger, deluded by desire, I fell into uncomfortable and tormenting states of life through the sins I committed. Death again and again, and birth again and again. I ate countless kinds of food, sucked at many different breasts, saw mother after mother and father after father of every sort; and, O sinless one, I knew strange pleasures and miseries. Time and again I was separated from those I loved and thrown together with those I did not love. Wealth I had acquired with great effort was lost; I suffered afflictions full of ignominy from princes and kinsmen alike; pain, both mental and bodily, cut me to the quick. I endured frightful indignities, terrible deaths and captivities, a fall into hell and torments in the house of Yama*. I suffered greatly too from old age, unceasing ailments, and the many misfortunes that flow from the pairs of opposites*. Then at last, worn down by misery, I turned away from the whole course of worldly life and, through indifference to worldly objects, took refuge with the formless principle*. Having learned of this path in this world, I practised it, and so, through the favour of the self*, I have attained this perfection*. I shall not come here again*. I am surveying the worlds and the happy migrations of my self from the creation of beings up to my attaining perfection. Thus, O best of the twice-born, have I won this highest perfection. From here I go to the next world, and from there again to the still higher world—the imperceptible seat of the Brahman. Have no doubt of that, O terror of your foes*. I shall not return to this mortal world. I am pleased with you, O man of great intelligence—tell me, what can I do for you? The time has come for the thing you wanted when you came to me. I know why you have come. But I shall be leaving shortly, and so I have given you this hint. I am exceedingly pleased, O clever one, with your good conduct. Ask your questions without hesitation; I will tell you whatever you wish to know. I think very highly of your intelligence and hold it in great respect, for you have seen through to who I am*; and indeed, O Kâśyapa, you are a talented man.
1 The same word as at Gita, p. 72.
2 Cf. Khândogya-upanishad, pp. 356–359, and Gita, p. 84.
3 See Gita, p. 76, and cf. Kaṭha, p. 90. For the whole of this passage, cf. Maitri-upanishad, p. 8. 4 See Manu VI, 61. 6 See Gita, p. 48.