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:
What is the end of him, O Kṛishṇa! who does not attain the consummation of his devotion, being not assiduous’, and having a mind shaken off from devotion, (though) full of faith? Does he, fallen from both (paths), go to ruin like a broken cloud, being, O you of mighty arms! without support, and deluded on the path (leading) to the Brahman? Be pleased, O Kṛishṇa ! to entirely destroy this doubt of mine, for none else than you can destroy this doubt.
The Deity said:
O son of Pṛitha! neither in this world nor the next, is ruin for him; for, O dear friend! none who performs good (deeds) comes to an evil end. He who is fallen from devotion attains the worlds of those who perform meritorious acts, dwells (there) for many a year, and is afterwards born into a family of holy and illustrious* men. Or he is even born into a family of talented devotees; for such a birth as that in this world is more difficult to obtain, There he comes into contact with the knowledge which belonged to him in his former body, and then again, O descendant of Kuru! he works for perfection*, For even though reluctant 5, he is led away by the self-same former practice, and although he only wishes to learn devotion, he rises above the (fruits of action laid down in the) divine word. But the devotee working with great efforts*, and cleared of his sins, attains perfection after many births, and then reaches the supreme goal. The devotee is esteemed higher than the performers of penances, higher even than the men of knowledge, and the devotee is higher than the men of action; therefore, O Arguna! become a devotee. And even among all devotees, he who, being full of faith, worships me, with his inmost self intent on me, is esteemed by me to be the most devoted.
? Cf. p. 73 infra.
* The path to heaven, and that to final emancipation,
* “Kings or emperors,’ says Madhusûdana.
* Le. final emancipation.
* “As Arguna himself,’ says Madhusûdana, ‘receives instruction in knowledge, though he comes to the battle-field without any such object; hence it was said before, “nothing is here abortive.”’ See p. 47.
Arjuna said:
What becomes of him, O Kṛishṇa, who strays from the path of devotion — not diligent enough, his mind slipping away from it, yet still full of faith — and never reaches its fulfillment? Does he, O you of mighty arms, fall away from both paths and perish like a cloud broken apart, with no firm ground beneath him and lost on the road that leads to the Brahman? Please, O Kṛishṇa, put this doubt of mine entirely to rest, for no one but you can do so.
The Deity said:
O son of Pṛitha! there is no ruin for him, either in this world or the next; for, O dear friend! no one who does good comes to an evil end. He who has fallen from devotion attains the worlds of those who perform meritorious acts, dwells there for many a year, and is afterwards born into a family of holy and illustrious men. Or he is even born into a family of talented devotees; for such a birth as that is more difficult to obtain in this world. There he comes into contact with the knowledge that belonged to him in his former body, and then again, O descendant of Kuru! he works for perfection. For even though reluctant 5, he is led on by that same former practice, and although he only wishes to learn devotion, he rises above the fruits of action laid down in the divine word. But the devotee who works with great efforts, cleared of his sins, attains perfection after many births, and then reaches the supreme goal. The devotee is esteemed higher than the performers of penances, higher even than the men of knowledge, and the devotee is higher than the men of action; therefore, O Arjuna! become a devotee. And even among all devotees, he who, full of faith, worships me with his inmost self intent on me, is esteemed by me to be the most devoted.
? Cf. p. 73 infra.
* The path to heaven, and that to final emancipation,
* "Kings or emperors," says Madhusûdana.
* I.e., final emancipation.
* "Just as Arjuna himself," says Madhusûdana, "receives instruction in knowledge, even though he comes to the battle-field with no such intention — and that is why it was said earlier, 'nothing is here abortive.'" See p. 47.