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.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Brâhmaṇa said:
There are, verily, three foes in (this) world, and they are stated to be (divided) ninefold, according to qualities. Exultation, pleasure, joy‘, these three are qualities appertaining to the quality of goodness. Grief, wrath, persistent hatred, these are stated to be qualities appertaining to the quality of passion. Sleep, sloth, and delusion, these three qualities are qualities appertaining to the quality of darkness. Cutting these off by multitudes of arrows’, a courageous man, free from sloth, having a tranquil self, and senses controlled, is energetic about subjugating others’. On this, people who know about ancient times celebrate verses which were sung of old by the king Ambarisha, who had become tranquil (in mind). When vices* were in the ascendant, and good (men) were oppressed, Ambarisha, of great glory, forceably possessed himself of the kingdom’, He (then) restraining his own vices, and honouring good men, attained high perfection, and sang these verses: ‘I have conquered most vices; destroyed all foes; but there is one, the greatest, vice which should be destroyed and which I have not destroyed—that (vice), being impelled by which, a creature does not attain freedom from desire, and being troubled by desire, understands (nothing) while running into ditches?; (that vice), being impelled by which, a man even does what ought not to be done. That avarice—cut (it) off, cut (it) off with sharp swords. For from avarice® is born desire: then anxiety comes into existence; and he who desires, mostly acquires qualities appertaining to the quality of passion. Obtaining those, he mostly acquires qualities appertaining to the quality of darkness‘. When the bodily frame is destroyed, he, owing to these qualities, is born again and again, and engages in action. And at the expiration of life, again with his body dismembered and scattered about, he meets death, and again birth. Therefore, properly perceiving this, and restraining avarice by courage, one should wish for sovereignty in the self. This is sovereignty 5 ; there is no other sovereignty here. The self properly understood is itself the sovereign.’ Such were PR ee SS ee the verses sung with regard to the great sovereignty, by the glorious Ambarisha, who destroyed the one (chief vice), avarice.
* Le. the râga-yoga, says Nîlakaṇṭha, which consists in mere control of the mind. Cf. Sâṅkhya-sâra, P. 39. ? See Yoga-sûtras, p. 45. $ This means difficult, and occasioning many trials to one who performs it.
* Nîlakaṇṭha says exultation is when one is sure of obtaining what is desired, pleasure when it is obtained, and joy when the thing obtained is enjoyed. Arguna Misra takes a different distinction; but our copy of his commentary is not quite intelligible in
CHAPTER XVI.
The Brâhmaṇa said:
There are, in truth, three enemies in this world, and they are said to divide into nine according to their qualities. Exultation, pleasure, joy—these three are qualities belonging to the quality of goodness. Grief, wrath, persistent hatred—these three are said to belong to the quality of passion. Sleep, sloth, and delusion—these three belong to the quality of darkness. A courageous man, free from sloth, tranquil within, and with his senses controlled, cuts all of these down with multitudes of arrows and works energetically to subdue them. On this subject, those who know the old traditions celebrate verses sung long ago by king Ambarisha, who had become tranquil in mind. When vices were in the ascendant and good men were oppressed, Ambarisha, of great glory, took forcible possession of the kingdom. He then restrained his own vices, honoured good men, attained high perfection, and sang these verses: 'I have conquered most vices; I have destroyed all foes; but there is one vice, the greatest, which ought to be destroyed and which I have not yet destroyed—that vice, driven by which a creature does not attain freedom from desire, and, troubled by desire, understands nothing while running headlong into ditches; that vice, driven by which a man does even what ought not to be done. That avarice—cut it off, cut it off with sharp swords. For from avarice is born desire; then anxiety comes into existence; and one who desires mostly acquires qualities belonging to the quality of passion. Acquiring those, he mostly acquires qualities belonging to the quality of darkness. When the bodily frame is destroyed, he is, on account of these qualities, born again and again and engages in action. And at the end of life, again with his body dismembered and scattered, he meets death, and then birth again. Therefore, perceiving this clearly and restraining avarice by courage, one should seek sovereignty over the self. This is sovereignty 5; there is no other sovereignty here. The self, properly understood, is itself the sovereign.' Such were the verses sung concerning the great sovereignty by the glorious Ambarisha, who destroyed that one chief vice, avarice.
* That is, the râga-yoga, says Nîlakaṇṭha, which consists in mere control of the mind. Cf. Sâṅkhya-sâra, p. 39. † See Yoga-sûtras, p. 45. ‡ This means difficult, and occasioning many trials to one who performs it.
* Nîlakaṇṭha says exultation is when one is sure of obtaining what is desired, pleasure when it is obtained, and joy when the thing obtained is enjoyed. Arjuna Miśra draws a different distinction; but our copy of his commentary is not quite intelligible in