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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 gain
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
The rule of all Three Worlds； then； how much less To seize an earthly
kingdom！ Killing these Must breed but anguish； Krishna！ If they be Guilty；
we shall grow guilty by their deaths； Their sins will light on us； if we shall
slay Those sons of Dhritirashtra； and our kin； What peace could come of
that； O Madhava？ For if indeed； blinded by lust and wrath； These cannot
see； or will not see； the sin Of kingly lines o'erthrown and kinsmen slain；
How should not we； who see； shun such a crime We who perceive the
guilt and feel the shame O thou Delight of Men； Janardana？ By
overthrow of houses perisheth Their sweet continuous household piety；
And…rites neglected； piety extinct Enters impiety upon that home； Its
women grow unwomaned； whence there spring Mad passions； and the
mingling…up of castes； Sending a Hell…ward road that family； And whoso
wrought its doom by wicked wrath。 Nay； and the souls of honoured
ancestors Fall from their place of peace； being bereft Of funeral…cakes and
the wan death…water。＇FN#1＇ So teach our holy hymns。 Thus； if we slay
Kinsfolk and friends for love of earthly power； Ahovat！ what an evil fault
it were！ Better I deem it； if my kinsmen strike； To face them weaponless；
and bare my breast To shaft and spear； than answer blow with blow。 So
speaking； in the face of those two hosts； Arjuna sank upon his chariot…seat；
And let fall bow and arrows； sick at heart。
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
HERE ENDETHCHAPTER I。 OF THE BHAGAVAD…GITA； Entitled
〃Arjun…Vishad；〃 Or 〃The Book of the Distress of Arjuna。〃
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
CHAPTER II
Sanjaya。 Him； filled with such compassion and such grief； With eyes
tear…dimmed； despondent； in stern words The Driver； Madhusudan； thus
addressed：
Krishna。 How hath this weakness taken thee？ Whence springs The
inglorious trouble； shameful to the brave； Barring the path of virtue？ Nay；
Arjun！ Forbid thyself to feebleness！ it mars Thy warrior…name！ cast off the
coward…fit！ Wake！ Be thyself！ Arise； Scourge of thy Foes！
Arjuna。 How can I； in the battle； shoot with shafts On Bhishma； or on
Drona…O thou Chief！ Both worshipful； both honourable men？
Better to live on beggar's bread With those we love alive； Than
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
perceiv