CHAPTER IX KRISHNA: Now will I open unto thee-whose heart Yea! for the soul such light as purgeth it With inmost splendor shining; plain to see; They that receive not this, failing in faith By Me the whole vast Universe of things Not I in them! Yet they are not contained, Those visible things! Receive and strive to embrace The mystery majestical! My Being Creating all, sustaining all-still dwells Outside of all! See! as the shoreless airs Move in the measureless space, but are not space, [And space were space without the moving airs]; So all things are in Me, but are not I. At closing of each Kalpa, Indian Prince! All things which be back to My Being come: At the beginning of each Kalpa, all Issue newborn from Me. By Energy And help of Prakritî, my outer Self, The realms of visible things-without their will- Yet these great makings, Prince! involve Me not, Enchain Me not! I sit apart from them, Other, and Higher, and Free; nowise attached! Thus doth the stuff of worlds, moulded by Me, Bring forth all that which is, moving or still, Living or lifeless! Thus the worlds go on! The minds untaught mistake Me, veiled in form;— The Mantra, and the flame, and that which burns! The Father, Mother, Ancestor, and Guard! The Witness; the Abode, the Refuge-House, Arjuna! SAT and ASAT, Visible Life, Yea! those who learn The threefold Veds, who drink the Soma-wine, Of great gods feed them in high Indra's heaven. Come to the world of death and change once more. They had their recompense! they stored their treasure, But to those blessèd ones who worship Me, Nay, and of hearts which follow other gods A leaf, a flower, a fruit, water poured forth, That offering I accept, lovingly made With pious will. Whate'er thou doest, Prince! Praying or fasting, let it all be done For Me, as Mine. So shalt thou free thyself I am alike for all! I know not hate, Nay, Prince! If one of evil life turn in his thought Straightly to Me, count him amidst the good; He hath the highway chosen; he shall grow Righteous ere long; he shall attain that peace Which changes not. Thou Prince of India! Be certain none can perish, trusting Me! O Pritha's Son! whoso will turn to Me, Though they be born from the very womb of Sin, Woman or man; sprung of the Vaisya caste Or lowly disregarded Sudra,-all Plant foot upon the highest path; how then Unto My rest your spirits shall be guided. Here ends Chapter IX. of the Bhagavad-Gîtâ, entitled “Râjavidyârajaguhyayôg," or "The Book of Religion by the Kingly Knowledge and the Kingly Mystery" CHAPTER X KRISHNA: HEAR farther yet thou Long-Armed Lord! these latest words I say Uttered to bring thee bliss and peace, who lovest Me alway Not the great company of gods nor kingly Rishis know My Nature, who have made the gods and Rishis long ago; He only knoweth-only he is free of sin, and wise, Who seeth Me, Lord of the Worlds, with faith-enlightened eyes, Unborn, undying, unbegun. Whatever Natures be To mortal men distributed, those natures spring from Me! Intellect, skill, enlightenment, endurance, self-control, Truthfulness, equability, and grief or joy of soul, And birth and death, and fearfulness, and fearlessness, and shame, And honor, and sweet harmlessness, and peace which is the same Whate'er befalls, and mirth, and tears, and piety, and thrift, And wish to give, and will to help,-all cometh of My gift! The Seven Chief Saints, the Elders Four, the Lordly Manus set Sharing My work to rule the worlds, these too did I beget; And Rishis, Pitris, Manus, all, by one thought of My mind; Thence did arise, to fill this world, the races of mankind; Wherefrom who comprehends My Reign of mystic MajestyThat truth of truths-is thenceforth linked in faultless faith to Me: Yea! knowing Me the source of all, by Me all creatures wrought, 1 The Sanskrit poem here rises to an elevation of style and manner which I have endeavored to mark by change of metre. 2 Ahinsâ. |