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75 pages

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The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most sacred and venerated Hindu texts, is a series of conversations between the Lord Krishna -- the divine one -- and the warrior prince Arjuna in the prelude to the Kurukshetra war. Consisting of seven hundred stanzas and dealing with parables, and analogies covering the Yogic and Vedantic philosophies, it is thought by many to be the Hindu guidebook to life. The Bhagavad Gita is one installment in the Indian Epic the Mahabharata.

Sujets

Mind

Body

Spirit

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 janvier 2009
Nombre de lectures	1
EAN13	9781877527524
Langue	English

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BHAGAVAD GITA
OR, THE SONG CELESTIAL
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Translated by
EDWIN ARNOLD

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Bhagavad Gita Or, The Song Celestial From an 1885 edition Epub ISBN 978-1-87752-752-4 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77556-554-3 © 2008 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Preface Book I - The Distress of Arjuna Book II - The Book of Doctrines Book III - Virtue in Work Book IV - The Religion of Knowledge Book V - Religion of Renouncing Works Book VI - Religion by Self-Restraint Book VII - Religion by Discernment Book VIII - Religion by Service of the Supreme Book IX - Religion by the Kingly Knowledge and the Kingly Mystery Book X - Religion by the Heavenly Perfections Book XI - The Manifesting of the One and Manifold Book XII - Religion of Faith Book XIII - Religion by Separation of Matter and Spirit Book XIV - Religion by Separation from the Qualities Book XV - Religion by Attaining the Supreme Book XVI - The Separateness of the Divine and Undivine Book XVII - Religion by the Threefold Faith Book XVIII - Religion by Deliverance and Renunciation Endnotes
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Bhagavad Gita
Being a Discourse Between Arjuna, Prince of India, and the Supreme Being Under the Form of Krishna
Preface
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This famous and marvellous Sanskrit poem occurs as an episode of theMahabharata, in the sixth—or "Bhishma"—Parva of the great Hindooepic. It enjoys immense popularity and authority in India, where it isreckoned as one of the "Five Jewels,"—pancharatnani—of Devanagiriliterature. In plain but noble language it unfolds a philosophical systemwhich remains to this day the prevailing Brahmanic belief, blending as itdoes the doctrines of Kapila, Patanjali, and the Vedas. So lofty are manyof its declarations, so sublime its aspirations, so pure and tender itspiety, that Schlegel, after his study of the poem, breaks forth into thisoutburst of delight and praise towards its unknown author: "Magistrorum reverentia a Brachmanis inter sanctissima pietatis officiarefertur. Ergo te primum, Vates sanctissime, Numinisque hypopheta!quisquis tandem inter mortales dictus tu fueris, carminis bujus auctor,cujus oraculis mens ad excelsa quaeque,quaeque,, aeterna atque divina,cum inenarraoih quddam delectatione rapitur-te primum, inquam,salvere jubeo, et vestigia tua semper adore." Lassen re-echoes thissplendid tribute; and indeed, so striking are some of the moralities hereinculcated, and so close the parallelism—ofttimes actually verbal—between its teachings and those of the New Testament, that acontroversy has arisen between Pandits and Missionaries on the pointwhether the author borrowed from Christian sources, or the Evangelistsand Apostles from him.
This raises the question of its date, which cannot be positively settled. Itmust have been inlaid into the ancient epic at a period later than that ofthe original Mahabharata, but Mr Kasinath Telang has offered some fairarguments to prove it anterior to the Christian era. The weight ofevidence, however, tends to place its composition at about the thirdcentury after Christ; and perhaps there are really echoes in thisBrahmanic poem of the lessons of Galilee, and of the Syrian incarnation.
Its scene is the level country between the Jumna and the Sarsootirivers-now Kurnul and Jheend. Its simple plot consists of a dialogue heldby Prince Arjuna, the brother of King Yudhisthira, with Krishna, theSupreme Deity, wearing the disguise of a charioteer. A great battle isimpending between the armies of the Kauravas and Pandavas, and thisconversation is maintained in a war-chariot drawn up between theopposing hosts.
The poem has been turned into French by Burnouf, into Latin by Lassen,into Italian by Stanislav Gatti, into Greek by Galanos, and into Englishby Mr. Thomson and Mr Davies, the prose transcript of the last-namedbeing truly beyond praise for its fidelity and clearness. Mr Telang hasalso published at Bombay a version in colloquial rhythm, eminentlylearned and intelligent, but not conveying the dignity or grace of theoriginal. If I venture to offer a translation of the wonderful poem afterso many superior scholars, it is in grateful recognition of the helpderived from their labours, and because English literature wouldcertainly be incomplete without possessing in popular form a poeticaland philosophical work so dear to India.
There is little else to say which the "Song Celestial" does not explain foritself. The Sanskrit original is written in the Anushtubh metre, whichcannot be successfully reproduced for Western ears. I have thereforecast it into our flexible blank verse, changing into lyrical measureswhere the text itself similarly breaks. For the most part, I believe thesense to be faithfully preserved in the following pages; but Schlegelhimself had to say: "In reconditioribus me semper poetafoster mentemrecte divinasse affirmare non ausim." Those who would read more uponthe philosophy of the poem may find an admirable introduction in thevolume of Mr Davies, printed by Messrs Trubner & Co.
EDWIN ARNOLD, C.S.I.
Book I - The Distress of Arjuna
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Dhritirashtra: Ranged thus for battle on the sacred plain— On Kurukshetra—say, Sanjaya! say What wrought my people, and the Pandavas?
Sanjaya: When he beheld the host of Pandavas, Raja Duryodhana to Drona drew, And spake these words: "Ah, Guru! see this line, How vast it is of Pandu fighting-men, Embattled by the son of Drupada, Thy scholar in the war! Therein stand ranked Chiefs like Arjuna, like to Bhima chiefs, Benders of bows; Virata, Yuyudhan, Drupada, eminent upon his car, Dhrishtaket, Chekitan, Kasi's stout lord, Purujit, Kuntibhoj, and Saivya, With Yudhamanyu, and Uttamauj Subhadra's child; and Drupadi's;-all famed! All mounted on their shining chariots! On our side, too,—thou best of Brahmans! see Excellent chiefs, commanders of my line, Whose names I joy to count: thyself the first, Then Bhishma, Karna, Kripa fierce in fight, Vikarna, Aswatthaman; next to these Strong Saumadatti, with full many more Valiant and tried, ready this day to die For me their king, each with his weapon grasped, Each skilful in the field. Weakest-meseems- Our battle shows where Bhishma holds command, And Bhima, fronting him, something too strong! Have care our captains nigh to Bhishma's ranks Prepare what help they may! Now, blow my shell!"
Then, at the signal of the aged king, With blare to wake the blood, rolling around Like to a lion's roar, the trumpeter Blew the great Conch; and, at the noise of it, Trumpets and drums, cymbals and gongs and horns Burst into sudden clamour; as the blasts Of loosened tempest, such the tumult seemed! Then might be seen, upon their car of gold Yoked with white steeds, blowing their battle-shells, Krishna the God, Arjuna at his side: Krishna, with knotted locks, blew his great conch Carved of the "Giant's bone;" Arjuna blew Indra's loud gift; Bhima the terrible— Wolf-bellied Bhima-blew a long reed-conch; And Yudhisthira, Kunti's blameless son, Winded a mighty shell, "Victory's Voice;" And Nakula blew shrill upon his conch Named the "Sweet-sounding," Sahadev on his Called"Gem-bedecked," and Kasi's Prince on his. Sikhandi on his car, Dhrishtadyumn, Virata, Satyaki the Unsubdued, Drupada, with his sons, (O Lord of Earth!) Long-armed Subhadra's children, all blew loud, So that the clangour shook their foemen's hearts, With quaking earth and thundering heav'n.
Then 'twas- Beholding Dhritirashtra's battle set, Weapons unsheathing, bows drawn forth, the war Instant to break-Arjun, whose ensign-badge Was Hanuman the monkey, spake this thing To Krishna the Divine, his charioteer: "Drive, Dauntless One! to yonder open ground Betwixt the armies; I would see more nigh These who will fight with us, those we must slay To-day, in war's arbitrament; for, sure, On bloodshed all are bent who throng this plain, Obeying Dhritirashtra's sinful son."
Thus, by Arjuna prayed, (O Bharata!) Between the hosts that heavenly Charioteer Drove the bright car, reining its milk-white steeds Where Bhishma led,and Drona,and their Lords. "See!" spake he to Arjuna, "where they stand, Thy kindred of the Kurus:" and the Prince Marked on each hand the kinsmen of his house, Grandsires and sires, uncles and brothers and sons, Cousins and sons-in-law and nephews, mixed With friends and honoured elders; some this side, Some that side ranged: and, seeing those opposed, Such kith grown enemies-Arjuna's heart Melted with pity, while he uttered this:
Arjuna. Krishna! as I behold, come here to shed Their common blood, yon concourse of our kin, My members fail, my tongue dries in my mouth, A shudder thrills my body, and my hair Bristles with horror; from my weak hand slips Gandiv, the goodly bow; a fever burns My skin to parching; hardly may I stand; The life within me seems to swim and faint; Nothing do I foresee save woe and wail! It is not good, O Keshav! nought of good Can spring from mutual slaughter! Lo, I hate Triumph and domination, wealth and ease, Thus sadly won! Aho! what victory Can bring delight, Govinda! what rich spoils Could profit; what rule recompense; what span Of life itself seem sweet, bought with such blood? Seeing that these stand here, ready to die, For whose sake life was fair, and pleasure pleased, And power grew precious:-grandsires, sires, and sons, Brothers, and fathers-in-law, and sons-in-law, Elders and friends! Shall I deal death on these Even though they seek to slay us? Not one blow, O Madhusudan! will I strike to