"Yudhishthira said,
'I am conversant with both the
Vedas and the scriptures that lead to the attainment of
Brahma. In the
Vedas there are precepts of both kinds,
viz.,
- those that inculcate action and
- those that inculcate renouncement of
action.
The scriptures
- are confounding and
- their conclusions are based
upon reasons.
The truth, however, that is in the
Mantras, is duly
known to me.
Thou art conversant only
- with weapons and
- observant of the
practices of heroes.
Thou art unable to understand truly the sense of
the scriptures.
If thou wert really acquainted with duty, then thou
couldst have understood that words such as these ought not to have been
addressed to me by even one possessed of the clearest insight into the
- meaning of the scriptures and
- acquainted with the truths of religion.
That, however, which thou hast said unto me, induced by fraternal
affection, has been
- fit and
- proper,
O son of Kunti! I am, for that,
pleased with thee, O Arjuna! There is no one equal to thee in the three
worlds in
- all duties connected with battle and
- in skill in respect of
diverse kinds of acts.
Thou mayst, therefore, speak of the subtleties
connected with those subjects,--subtleties, that is, that are
impenetrable by others.
It behoveth thee not, however, O Dhananjaya, to
doubt my intelligence. Thou art conversant with the science of battle,
but
- thou hast never waited upon the aged.
- Thou knowest not the
conclusions arrived at by those that have studied the subject in
- brief
and
- detail.
- Even this is the conclusion of intelligent men whose
understanding are bent on achieving salvation, viz., that amongst
- ascetic penances,
- renunciation, and
- knowledge of Brahma,
the second is superior to the first, and the third is superior to the second. This, however, that thou thinkest,
viz.,
that there is nothing superior to wealth, is an error. I will convince
thee of it, so that wealth may not again appear to thee in that light.
All men that are righteous are seen to be devoted to ascetic penances
and the study of the Vedas. The
Rishis also, that have many
eternal regions for them, have the merit of penances. Others possessed
of tranquillity of soul, having no enemies, and dwelling in the woods,
have, through penances and study of the Vedas, proceeded to heaven.
Pious men, by restraining desire for worldly possessions, and casting
off that darkness which is born of folly, proceed northward (
i.e.,
by luminous paths) to the regions reserved for practisers of
renunciation. The path that lies to the south and that leads to regions
of light (
i.e., lunar regions), are reserved for men devoted to
action. These are attained by persons subject to birth and death. That
end, however, which persons desirous of salvation have before their
eyes, is indescribable.
Yoga is the best means for attaining to
it. It is not easy to explain it (to thee). Those that are learned live,
reflecting on the scriptures from desire of finding what is unreal.
They are, however, often led away to this and to that in the belief that
the object of their search exists in this and that. Having mastered,
however, the Vedas, the
Aranyakas, and the other scriptures, they
miss the real, like men failing to find solid timber in an uprooted
banana plant. Some there are who., disbelieving in its unity, regard the
Soul, that dwells in this physical frame consisting of the five elements, to be possessed of the attributes of desire and aversion (and others).
Incapable of being seen by the eye, exceedingly subtle, and
inexpressible by words, it revolves in a round (of re-births) among the
creatures of the earth, keeping before it that which is the root of
action.
Having made the Soul advance towards itself which is the spring of
every kind of blessedness, having restrained all desires of the mind,
and having cast off all kinds of action, one may become perfectly
independent and happy. When there is such a path that is trod by the
righteous and that is attainable by Knowledge, why,
O Arjuna, dost thou
applaud wealth which is full of every kind of calamity? Men of olden
times that were conversant with the scriptures,
O Bharata,--men that
were always engaged in gifts and sacrifice and action, were of this
opinion.
O Bharata! There are some fools who, accomplished in the
science of argumentation, deny the existence of the Soul, in consequence
of the strength of their convictions of a previous life. It is very
difficult to make them accept this truth about final emancipation. Those wicked men, though possessed of great learning, travel all over
the earth, making speeches in assemblies, and deprecating the true
doctrine about emancipation. O Partha, who else will succeed in
understanding that which we do not understand?' Indeed, (as those men
cannot understand the true meaning of the scriptures), similarly they
cannot succeed in knowing those wise and pious persons that are truly
great and that have deep acquaintance with the scriptures. O son of
Kunti, men acquainted with truth obtain
Brahma by asceticism and intelligence, and great happiness by renunciation.'
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