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.
Sañgaya said :
Hearing these words of Kesava, the wearer of the coronet¹, trembling, and with joined hands, bowed down; and sorely afraid, and with throat choked up, he again spoke to Kṛishṇa after saluting him.
Arguna* said :
It is quite proper, O Hṛishîkesa! that the universe is delighted and charmed by your renown, that the demons run away affrighted in all directions, and that all the assemblages of Siddhas bow down (to you). And why, O high-souled one! should they not bow down to you (who are) greater than Brahman, and first cause? O infinite lord of gods! O you pervading the universe! you are the indestructible, that which is, that which is not, and what is beyond them¹. You are the primal god, the ancient being, you are the highest support of this universe’, You are that which has knowledge, that which is the object of knowledge, you are the highest goal. By you is this universe pervaded, O you of infinite forms! You are the wind, Yama, fire, Varuṇa, the moon, you Pragâpati*, and the great grandsire*. Obeisance be to thee a thousand times, and again and again obeisance to thee! In front and from behind obeisance to thee! Obeisance be to thee from all sides, O you who are all! You are of infinite power, of unmeasured glory; you pervade all, and therefore you are all! Whatever I have said contemptuously,—for instance, ‘O Kṛishṇa!’ ‘O Yadava!’ ‘O friend !’—thinking you to be (my) friend, and not knowing your greatness (as shown in) this (universal form), or through friendliness, or incautiously ; and whatever disrespect I have shown you for purposes of merriment, on (occasions of) play, sleep, dinner, or sitting (together), whether alone or in the presence (of friends),—for all that, O undegraded one! I ask pardon of you who are indefinable*. You are the father of the world — movable and immovable — you its great and venerable master; there is none equal to you, whence can there be one greater, O you whose power is unparalleled in all the three worlds? Therefore I bow and prostrate myself, and would propitiate you, the praiseworthy lord. Be pleased,
1 Arguna*, as he could shoot with his left hand as well as the right.—Srîdhara.
* Arguna*, who had this coronet given him by Indra.—Madhusûdana. |
* The commentators interpret this to mean the perceptible, the unperceived, and the higher principle. Cf. p. 84 supra, and also PP. 103, 113 infra and notes there.
Sañjaya said:
Hearing these words of Kesava, the wearer of the coronet¹, trembling and with joined hands, bowed down; sorely afraid, with his throat choked up, he saluted Kṛishṇa and spoke to him again.
Arjuna* said:
It is entirely fitting, O Hṛishîkesa, that the universe delights and is charmed by your renown, that the demons flee in terror in every direction, and that all the assemblages of Siddhas bow down to you. And why should they not bow down to you, O high-souled one, you who are greater than Brahman and are the first cause? O infinite lord of gods! O you who pervade the universe! You are the indestructible, that which is, that which is not, and what lies beyond them¹. You are the primal god, the ancient being; you are the highest support of this universe². You are that which has knowledge and that which is the object of knowledge; you are the highest goal. By you is this universe pervaded, O you of infinite forms! You are the wind, Yama, fire, Varuṇa, the moon; you are Prajâpati* and the great grandsire*. Obeisance to you a thousand times, and again and again obeisance to you! Obeisance from the front and from behind! Obeisance to you from all sides, O you who are all! You are of infinite power and unmeasured glory; you pervade all, and therefore you are all. Whatever I have said to you contemptuously—such as "O Kṛishṇa!" "O Yadava!" "O friend!"—taking you to be my friend and not knowing your greatness as revealed in this universal form, whether out of affection or heedlessness; and whatever disrespect I have shown you for the sake of amusement, on occasions of play, sleep, dinner, or when sitting together, whether we were alone or in the presence of others—for all of that, O undegraded one, I ask your pardon, you who are indefinable*. You are the father of the world—of all that moves and all that does not—its great and venerable master; there is none equal to you, so how could there be anyone greater, O you whose power is unparalleled in all the three worlds? Therefore I bow and prostrate myself before you, and would propitiate you, the praiseworthy lord. Be pleased,
1 Arjuna could shoot with his left hand as well as his right.—Srîdhara.
*Arjuna*, who had this coronet given him by Indra.—Madhusûdana.
* The commentators interpret this to mean the perceptible, the unperceived, and the higher principle. Cf. p. 84 supra, and also pp. 103, 113 infra and notes there.