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.
Arguna said :
I cannot see, O destroyer of Madhu! (how) the sustained existence (is to be secured) of this devotion by means of equanimity which you have declared—in consequence of fickleness. For, O Kṛishṇa! the mind is fickle, boisterous*, strong, and obstinate; and I think that to restrain it is as difficult as (to restrain) the wind.
The Deity said :
Doubtless, O you of mighty arms! the mind is difficult to restrain, and fickle’. Still, O son of Kunti! it may be restrained by constant practice and by indifference (to worldly objects). It is my belief, that devotion is hard to obtain for one who does not restrain his self. But by one who is self-restrained and assiduous, it can be obtained through (proper) expedients. ;
1 Realises the essential unity of everything.
2 He has access to me, and I am kind to him. s Cf, Îsopanishad, p. 13.
4 ‘Even abandoning all action,’ says Sridhara; and cf. infra, p. 105.
5 Who believes that pleasure and pain are as much liked ‘or disliked by others as by himself, and puts himself in fact in the place of others.
6 Troublesome to the body, senses, &c.
7 Cf, Dhammapada, stanza 33 seq.
Arjuna said:
I cannot see, O destroyer of Madhu, how this devotion based on equanimity that you have described can be kept up steadily, because of fickleness. For, O Kṛishṇa, the mind is fickle, boisterous*, strong, and obstinate; and I think restraining it is as difficult as restraining the wind.
The Deity said:
Doubtless, O you of mighty arms, the mind is difficult to restrain and fickle. Still, O son of Kunti, it may be restrained by constant practice and by indifference to worldly objects. It is my belief that devotion is hard to obtain for one who does not restrain his self. But by one who is self-restrained and assiduous, it can be obtained through proper expedients.
1 Realises the essential unity of everything.
2 He has access to me, and I am kind to him. s Cf, Îsopanishad, p. 13.
4 'Even abandoning all action,' says Sridhara; and cf. infra, p. 105.
5 Who believes that others like or dislike pleasure and pain as much as he does himself, and who genuinely puts himself in the place of others.
6 Troublesome to the body, senses, &c.
7 Cf. Dhammapada, stanza 33 seq.