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taste their blood in rich feasts spread； And guiltily survive！ Ah！ were it
worse…who knows？to be Victor or vanquished here； When those
confront us angrily Whose death leaves living drear？ In pity lost； by
doubtings tossed； My thoughts…distracted…turn To Thee； the Guide I
reverence most； That I may counsel learn： I know not what would heal
the grief Burned into soul and sense； If I were earth's unchallenged
chief A godand these gone thence！
Sanjaya。 So spake Arjuna to the Lord of Hearts； And sighing；〃I will
not fight！〃 held silence then。 To whom； with tender smile； （O Bharata！ ）
While the Prince wept despairing 'twixt those hosts； Krishna made answer
in divinest verse：
Krishna。 Thou grievest where no grief should be！ thou speak'st Words
lacking wisdom！ for the wise in heart Mourn not for those that live； nor
those that die。 Nor I； nor thou； nor any one of these； Ever was not； nor ever
will not be； For ever and for ever afterwards。 All； that doth live； lives
always！ To man's frame As there come infancy and youth and age； So
come there raisings…up and layings…down Of other and of other life…abodes；
Which the wise know； and fear not。 This that irks Thy sense…life； thrilling
to the elements Bringing thee heat and cold； sorrows and joys； 'Tis brief
and mutable！ Bear with it； Prince！ As the wise bear。 The soul which is not
moved； The soul that with a strong and constant calm Takes sorrow and
takes joy indifferently； Lives in the life undying！ That which is Can never
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
cease to be； that which is not Will not exist。 To see this truth of both Is
theirs who part essence from accident； Substance from shadow。
Indestructible； Learn thou！ the Life is； spreading life through all； It cannot
anywhere； by any means； Be anywise diminished； stayed； or changed。 But
for these fleeting frames which it informs With spirit deathless； endless；
infinite； They perish。 Let them perish； Prince！ and fight！ He who shall say；
〃Lo！ I have slain a man！〃 He who shall think； 〃Lo！ I am slain！〃 those both
Know naught！ Life cannot slay。 Life is not slain！ Never the spirit was born；
the spirit shall cease to be never； Never was time it was not； End and
Beginning are dreams！ Birthless and deathless and changeless remaineth
the spirit for ever； Death hath not touched it at all； dead though the house
of it seems！
Who knoweth it exhaustless； self…sustained； Immortal； indestructible；
shall such Say； 〃I have killed a man； or caused to kill？〃
Nay； but as when one layeth His worn…out robes away； And taking
new ones； sayeth； 〃These will I wear to…day！〃 So putteth by the spirit
Lightly its garb of flesh； And passeth to inherit A residence afresh。
I say to thee weapons reach not the Life； Flame burns it not； waters
cannot o'erwhelm； Nor dry winds wither it。 Impenetrable； Unentered；
unassailed； unharmed； untouched； Immortal； all…arriving； stable； sure；
Invisible； ineffable； by word And thought uncompassed； ever all itself；
Thus is the Soul declared！ How wilt thou； then； Knowing it so；grieve
when thou shouldst not grieve？ How； if thou hearest that the man new…
dead Is； like the man new…born； still living man One same； existent
Spiritwilt thou weep？ The end of birth is death； the end of death Is birth：
this is ordained！ and mournest thou； Chief of the stalwart arm！ for what
befalls Which could not otherwise befall？ The birth Of living things comes
unperceived； the death Comes unperceived； between them； beings
perceive： What is there sorrowful herein； dear Prince？
Wonderful； wistful； to contemplate！ Difficult； doubtful； to speak
upon！ Strange and great for tongue to relate； Mystical hearing for every
one！ Nor wotteth man this； what a marvel it is； When seeing； and
saying； and hearing are done！
This Life within all living things； my Prince！ Hides beyond harm；
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
scorn thou to suffer； then； For that which cannot suffer。 Do thy part！ Be
mindful of thy name； and tremble not！ Nought better can betide a martial
soul Than lawful war； happy the warrior To whom comes joy of battle
comes； as now； Glorious and fair； unsought； opening for him A gateway
unto Heav'n。 But； if thou shunn'st This honourable fielda Kshattriya If；
knowing thy duty and thy task； thou bidd'st Duty and task go bythat shall
be sin！ And those to come shall speak thee infamy From age to age； but
infamy is worse For men of noble blood to bear than death！ The chiefs
upon their battle…chariots Will deem 'twas fear that drove thee from the
fray。 Of those who held thee mighty…souled the scorn Thou must abide；
while all thine enemies Will scatter bitter speech of thee； to mock The
valour which thou hadst； what fate could fall More grievously than this？
Eitherbeing killed Thou wilt win Swarga's safety； oralive And victor
thou wilt reign an earthly king。 Therefore； arise； thou Son of Kunti！ brace
Thine arm for conflict； nerve thy heart to meet As things alike to thee
pleasure or pain； Profit or ruin； victory or defeat： So minded； gird thee to
the fight； for so Thou shalt not sin！
Thus far I speak to thee As from the 〃Sankhya〃unspiritually Hear
now the deeper teaching of the Yog； Which holding； understanding； thou
shalt burst Thy Karmabandh； the bondage of wrought deeds。 Here shall no
end be hindered； no hope marred； No loss be feared： faithyea； a little
faith Shall save thee from the anguish of thy dread。 Here； Glory of the
Kurus！ shines one rule One steadfast rulewhile shifting souls have laws
Many and hard。 Specious； but wrongful deem The speech of those ill…
taught ones who extol The letter of their Vedas； saying； 〃This Is all we
have； or need；〃 being weak at heart With wants； seekers of Heaven： which
comesthey say As 〃fruit of good deeds done；〃 promising men Much
profit in new births for works of faith； In various rites abounding；
following whereon Large merit shall accrue towards wealth and power；
Albeit； who wealth and power do most desire L