Hinduism / by Monier Williams.

  • Monier Monier-Williams
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hinduism / by Monier Williams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ciently apparent from these examples. Three or four passages (taken from Chapter III. 27, Chapter XIII. 29, 31) will form a fit conclusion to the subject, as they contain the gist of the whole argument, viz. that it is Arj una’s duty, as a soldier, to act like a soldier, and to do the work of his caste, regardless of con- sequences ; and that this may be done consistently with adhesion to the Vedantic dogma of the soul’s real inactivity and state of passionless repose : All actions are incessantly performed By operation of the qualities Of Prakriti ; deluded by the thought Of individuality, the soul Vainly believes itself to be the doer. The soul existing from eternity. Devoid of qualities, imperishable, Abiding in the body, yet supreme, Acts not, nor is by any act polluted. He who perceives that actions are performed By Prakriti alone, and that the soul Is not an actor, sees the truth aright. Krishna’s last advice may be thus summed up : Act then and do thine own appointed task, In every action my assistance ask, Do all with heart and soul absorbed in me, So shalt thou gain thine end and be from trouble free. Arj una’s conclusion may be thus paraphrased : Eternal One ! thy glory just beheld Has all illusion from my soul dispelled ; Now by thy favour is my conscience clear, I will thy bidding do and fight without a fear. This beautiful poem offers, as we have seen, numerous parallels to passages in our own sacred Scriptures. But if we examine the writings and re- corded sayings of three great Roman philosophers, Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, we shall find them also full of similar resemblances, while there
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