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.
p. 56
Arguna said:
But by whom, O descendant of Vrishṇi! is man impelled, even though unwilling, and, as it were, constrained by force, to commit sin ?
* About the consequences of your actions.
* Of actions, or of the Brahman in its various forms.
* Which is the result of the virtues and vices of a preceding life. The sequence of ideas here is as follows :—The true view stated here about the ‘difference from qualities and actions’ is disregarded by some, owing to their ‘nature’ as now explained. Then the question is, If nature is so potent, what is the good of the Sâstras? The answer is, Nature only acts through our likes and dislikes. Withstand them and then you can follow the Sâstras. It is under the influence of these likes and dislikes, that some may say, we shall practise duties prescribed for others (our own being bad ones) as they are equally prescribed by the Sâstras. That, as stated in the last sentence here, is wrong.
* Cf. Sutta Nipâta, p. ror, as to ‘ likings and dislikings,’
p. 56
Arjuna said:
But by whom, O descendant of Vrishṇi, is a man driven to commit sin — even against his will, as though compelled by force?
* About the consequences of your actions.
* Of actions, or of the Brahman in its various forms.
Which is the result of the virtues and vices of a preceding life. The sequence of ideas here is as follows: The true view stated here about the 'difference from qualities and actions' is disregarded by some, owing to their 'nature' as now explained. Then the question arises: if nature is so potent, what use are the Sâstras? The answer is that nature acts only through our likes and dislikes. Withstand these, and you can follow the Sâstras. It is under the influence of such likes and dislikes that some may say we should practise duties prescribed for others—our own being disagreeable—since those duties are equally prescribed by the Sâstras. That, as the last sentence here states, is wrong.
* Cf. Sutta Nipâta, p. 101, as to 'likings and dislikings.'