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.
The preceptor said:
Thus instructed by the preceptor Brahman, those high-souled sages acted accordingly, and then attained to the worlds. Do you, too, O noble person, of pure self! duly act according to the words of Brahman which I have stated. Then will you attain perfection.
Vasudeva said:
That pupil thus instructed in the highest piety by the preceptor, did everything (accordingly), O son of Kunti! and then attained final emancipation. And the pupil, having done all he should have done, attained to that seat, O supporter of the family of the Kauravas! going to which one grieves not ®.
Arguna said:
Who, indeed, was that Brâhmaṇa, O Kṛishṇa! and who the pupil, O Ganârdana! If this verily is fit to be heard by me, O Lord! then tell it me.
Vasudeva said:
I am the preceptor, O you of mighty arms! and know the mind to be my pupil. And, O Dhanañgaya! I have related this mystery to you out of love for you. If you have love for me, O supporter of the family of the Kauravas! then having heard this (instruction) relating to the self, always duly act! (according to it). Then when this piety is duly practised, you will attain the absolute final emancipation, getting rid of all sins. It was this same thing I stated to you before¹ when the time for battle had come, O you of mighty arms! Therefore fix your mind on this. And now’, O chief of the descendants of Bharata! it is long since I saw the lord my father. I wish to see him, with your consent, O Phalguna³!
1 See inter alia Gita, pp. 68-70.
2 Le., I presume, Bhar and the rest. But see also Khândogya, pp. 272, 541, 620, and Bṛihadâraṇyaka, pp. 302, 608.
3 See p. 285 supra, and cf. inter alia Khândogya, p. 550. + L.e. I, the Kshetragña, am the preceptor, and the mind is that which has to be taught. This shows that one’s instructor must be oneself, Nîlakaṇṭha. Arguna Misra says, ‘I am the preceptor, the mind is the pupil. The meaning of this is that anybody who has not acquired knowledge is treated here as a pupil ; there is no other special pupil intended. Cf. also p. 310 supra.
The preceptor said:
Thus instructed by the preceptor Brahman, those high-souled sages acted accordingly and attained those worlds. You too, O noble person of pure self, should duly act according to the words of Brahman that I have set forth. Then you will attain perfection.
Vasudeva said:
That pupil, thus instructed in the highest piety by his teacher, did everything accordingly, O son of Kunti! and then attained final emancipation. Having done all that he should have done, he reached that seat, O supporter of the family of the Kauravas! — going to which, one grieves no more ®.
Arjuna said:
Who exactly was that Brâhmaṇa, O Kṛishṇa, and who was the pupil, O Janârdana? If this is something I may rightly hear, O Lord, then tell me.
Vasudeva said:
I am the teacher, O you of mighty arms, and know that the mind is my pupil. And, O Dhanañjaya, I have shared this mystery with you out of love for you. If you love me, O upholder of the Kaurava line, then having heard this teaching about the self, always act faithfully in accordance with it. When this piety is duly practised, you will attain absolute final emancipation, freed from all sins. This is the very same thing I told you before¹ when the hour of battle had come, O you of mighty arms — so fix your mind on it. And now², O chief of the descendants of Bharata, it has been long since I have seen my father. I wish to see him, with your permission, O Phalguna³!
1 See inter alia Gita, pp. 68-70.
2 I.e., I presume, Bhar and the rest. But see also Khândogya, pp. 272, 541, 620, and Bṛihadâraṇyaka, pp. 302, 608.
3 See p. 285 above, and cf. among others Khândogya, p. 550. † That is: I, the Kshetrajña, am the preceptor, and the mind is what has to be taught. This shows that one must be one's own instructor, according to Nîlakaṇṭha. Arjuna Misra says, "I am the preceptor, the mind is the pupil. The meaning of this is that anyone who has not yet acquired knowledge is here treated as a pupil; no other particular pupil is intended." Cf. also p. 310 above.