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Ikshwaku； so passed it down the line Of all my royal Rishis。 Then； with
years； The truth grew dim and perished； noble Prince！ Now once again to
thee it is declared This ancient lore； this mystery supreme Seeing I find
thee votary and friend。
Arjuna。 Thy birth； dear Lord； was in these later days； And bright
Vivaswata's preceded time！ How shall I comprehend this thing thou sayest；
〃From the beginning it was I who taught？〃
Krishna。 Manifold the renewals of my birth Have been； Arjuna！ and of
thy births； too！ But mine I know； and thine thou knowest not； O Slayer of
thy Foes！ Albeit I be Unborn； undying； indestructible； The Lord of all
things living； not the less By Maya； by my magic which I stamp On
floating Nature…forms； the primal vast I come； and go； and come。 When
Righteousness Declines； O Bharata！ when Wickedness Is strong； I rise；
from age to age； and take Visible shape； and move a man with men；
Succouring the good； thrusting the evil back； And setting Virtue on her
seat again。 Who knows the truth touching my births on earth And my
divine work； when he quits the flesh Puts on its load no more； falls no
more down To earthly birth： to Me he comes； dear Prince！ Many there be
who come！ from fear set free； From anger； from desire； keeping their
hearts Fixed upon memy Faithfulpurified By sacred flame of
Knowledge。 Such as these Mix with my being。 Whoso worship me； Them
I exalt； but all men everywhere Shall fall into my path； albeit； those souls
Which seek reward for works； make sacrifice Now； to the lower gods。 I
say to thee Here have they their reward。 But I am He Made the Four
Castes； and portioned them a place After their qualities and gifts。 Yea； I
Created； the Reposeful； I that live Immortally； made all those mortal births：
For works soil not my essence； being works Wrought uninvolved。＇FN#7＇
Who knows me acting thus Unchained by action； action binds not him；
And； so perceiving； all those saints of old Worked； seeking for deliverance。
Work thou As； in the days gone by； thy fathers did。
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
Thou sayst； perplexed； It hath been asked before By singers and by
sages； 〃What is act； And what inaction？ 〃I will teach thee this； And；
knowing； thou shalt learn which work doth save Needs must one rightly
meditate those three Doing；not doing；and undoing。 Here Thorny and
dark the path is！ He who sees How action may be rest； rest actionhe Is
wisest 'mid his kind； he hath the truth！ He doeth well； acting or resting。
Freed In all his works from prickings of desire； Burned clean in act by the
white fire of truth； The wise call that man wise； and such an one；
Renouncing fruit of deeds； always content。 Always self…satisfying； if he
works； Doth nothing that shall stain his separate soul； Whichquit of fear
and hopesubduing self Rejecting outward impulseyielding up To
body's need nothing save body； dwells Sinless amid all sin； with equal
calm Taking what may befall； by grief unmoved； Unmoved by joy；
unenvyingly； the same In good and evil fortunes； nowise bound By bond
of deeds。 Nay； but of such an one； Whose crave is gone； whose soul is
liberate； Whose heart is set on truthof such an one What work he does is
work of sacrifice； Which passeth purely into ash and smoke Consumed
upon the altar！ All's then God！ The sacrifice is Brahm； the ghee and grain
Are Brahm； the fire is Brahm； the flesh it eats Is Brahm； and unto Brahm
attaineth he Who； in such office； meditates on Brahm。 Some votaries there
be who serve the gods With flesh and altar…smoke； but other some Who；
lighting subtler fires； make purer rite With will of worship。 Of the which
be they Who； in white flame of continence； consume Joys of the sense；
delights of eye and ear； Forgoing tender speech and sound of song： And
they who； kindling fires with torch of Truth； Burn on a hidden altar…stone
the bliss Of youth and love； renouncing happiness： And they who lay for
offering there their wealth； Their penance； meditation； piety； Their
steadfast reading of the scrolls； their lore Painfully gained with long
austerities： And they who； making silent sacrifice； Draw in their breath to
feed the flame of thought； And breathe it forth to waft the heart on high；
Governing the ventage of each entering air Lest one sigh pass which
helpeth not the soul： And they who； day by day denying needs； Lay life
itself upon the altar…flame； Burning the body wan。 Lo！ all these keep The
rite of offering； as if they slew Victims； and all thereby efface much sin。
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
Yea！ and who feed on the immortal food Left of such sacrifice； to Brahma
pass； To The Unending。 But for him that makes No sacrifice； he hath nor
part nor lot Even in the present world。 How should he share Another； O
thou Glory of thy Line？
In sight of Brahma all these offerings Are spread and are accepted！
Comprehend That all proceed by act； for knowing this； Thou shalt be quit
of doubt。 The sacrifice Which Knowledge pays is better than great gifts
Offered by wealth； since gifts' worthO my Prince！ Lies in the mind
which gives； the will that serves： And these are gained by reverence； by
strong search； By humble heed of those who see the Truth And teach it。
Knowing Truth； thy heart no more Will ache with error； for the Truth shall
show All things subdued to thee； as thou to Me。 Moreover； Son of Pandu！
wert thou worst Of all wrong…doers； this fair ship of Truth Should bear
thee safe and dry across the sea Of thy transgressions。 As the kindled
flame Feeds on the fuel till it sinks to ash； So unto ash； Arjuna！ unto
nought The flame of Knowledge wastes works' dross away！ There is no
purifier like thereto In all this world； and he who seeketh it Shall find it
being grown perfectin himself。 Believing； he receives it when the soul
Masters itself； and cleaves to Truth； and comes Possessing knowledge
to the higher peace； The uttermost repose。 But those untaught； And those
without full faith； and th