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.
Sanatsugâta said :
Through ignorance of the one Veda*—the one truth—O king of kings! numerous Vedas came into existence. Some‘ only adhere to the truth. The fancies of those who have fallen away from the truth are abortive, and through ignorance of the truth, ceremonies become amplified*. One should understand a Brâhmaṇa, who (merely) reads much, to be a man of many words*. Know him only to be the (true) Brâhmaṇa, who swerves not from the truth’. O you who are the highest among men⁶! the Khandas, indeed, refer of themselves* to it. Therefore, studying them, the learned persons who under- Stand the Khandas, attain to the Veda, not that which is to be known⁸. Among the Vedas, there is none which understands⁹. By the unintelligent*, one understands not the Veda, nor the object of knowledge*. He who knows the Veda knows the object of knowledge. He who knows the object of knowledge 5 knows not the truth. He who understands the Vedas understands also the object of knowledge; but that* is not understood by the Vedas or by those who understand the Vedas. Still the Brâhmaṇas who understand the Vedas, understand the Veda by means of the Vedas*. As the branch of a tree with regard to the part of a portion of the glorious* one, so, they declare, are the Vedas with
1 Cf, as to this, Max Miiller’s Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 38 seq.; and Khândogya, pp. 164, 474, 493; Bṛihadâraṇyaka, pp. 456, 687, 926; Maitri, p.171; Nṛisimha Tapini, p. 105.
2 The original is ‘void of Rzks. The commentators give no explanation. Does it mean those who abandon the karma-marga? Heretics who reject all Vedas are scarcely likely to be referred to in this way. Nîlakaṇṭha’s interpretation of all this is very different. See his gloss.
5 Sankara gives various interpretations of this. Perhaps the best is to take it as meaning knowledge. ‘The one knowledge— the one truth’—would then be like the famous text—Taittiriya, p. 56—‘ The Brahman is truth, knowledge,’ &c.
* For this phrase cf. Gita, p. 73.
5 Those who do not understand the Brahman lose their natural power of obtaining what they wish, and so go in for various ceremonies for various special benefits. Cf. Khândogya, p. 541; Gita, p. 47; and p. 184 infra.
6 Cf. Br'hadârazyaka, p. 893. T Ibid. p. 636.
8 Literally, ‘highest among bipeds,’ a rather unusual expression.
9 Nîlakaṇṭha says, ‘The part of the Vedas which teaches the
Sanatsujâta said:
Through ignorance of the one Veda—the one truth—O king of kings, numerous Vedas came into existence. Some adhere only to the truth. The fancies of those who have fallen away from the truth are abortive, and through ignorance of the truth, ceremonies become amplified. One should understand a Brâhmaṇa who merely reads much to be a man of many words. Know him alone to be the true Brâhmaṇa who never swerves from the truth. O highest among men⁶, the Khandas do indeed refer of themselves to it. Therefore, by studying them, learned persons who understand the Khandas attain to the Veda—not that which is merely to be known⁸. Among the Vedas, there is none that understands⁹. By the unintelligent, one understands neither the Veda nor the object of knowledge. He who knows the Veda knows the object of knowledge. He who knows the object of knowledge 5 does not know the truth. He who understands the Vedas understands also the object of knowledge; but that is not understood by the Vedas or by those who understand the Vedas. Still, the Brâhmaṇas who understand the Vedas understand the Veda by means of the Vedas. As the branch of a tree stands in relation to a portion of the glorious one, so, they declare, are the Vedas with
1 Cf., on this point, Max Müller's Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 38 seq.; and Khândogya, pp. 164, 474, 493; Bṛihadâraṇyaka, pp. 456, 687, 926; Maitri, p. 171; Nṛisimha Tapini, p. 105.
2 The original is void of Rzks. The commentators give no explanation. Does it mean those who abandon the karma-marga? Heretics who reject all Vedas are scarcely likely to be referred to in this way. Nîlakaṇṭha's interpretation of all this is very different. See his gloss.
5 Sankara gives various interpretations of this. Perhaps the best is to take it as meaning knowledge. 'The one knowledge—the one truth'—would then be like the famous text—Taittiriya, p. 56—'The Brahman is truth, knowledge,' &c.
* For this phrase cf. Gita, p. 73.
5 Those who do not understand the Brahman lose their natural power of obtaining what they wish, and so resort to various ceremonies for various special benefits. Cf. Khândogya, p. 541; Gita, p. 47; and p. 184 infra.
6 Cf. Br'hadârazyaka, p. 893. T Ibid. p. 636.
8 Literally, 'highest among bipeds,' a rather unusual expression.
9 Nîlakaṇṭha says, 'The part of the Vedas which teaches the