|
ANUGITA
CHAPTER XVII
Page1
The Brahmana said :
On this 1, too, they relate this ancient story (in the shape of) a dialogue, O you of a pure heart! between a Brahmana and Ganaka. King Ganaka, by way of punishment, said to a Brahmana who had fallen into some offence: 'You should not live within my dominions.' Thus spoken to, the Brahmana then replied to that best of kings: 'Tell me, O king! how far (extend) the dominions which are subject to you. I wish, O Lord! to live in the dominions of another king, and, O master of the earth! I wish to do your bidding according to the Sastras.' Thus spoken to by that glorious Brahmana, the king then heaved frequent and warm sighs, and said nothing in reply. While that king of unbounded power was seated, engaged in meditation, a delusion suddenly came upon him, as the planet 2 upon the sun. Then when the delusion had gone off, the king recovered himself, and after a short while spoke these words to the Brahmana.
Ganaka said :
Though this country, which is the kingdom of my father and grandfather, is subject (to me), I cannot find my domain 3, searching through the (whole) earth. When I did not find it on the earth, I looked for Mithila; when I did not find it in Mithila, I looked for my own offspring. When I did not find it among them, then came the delusion on me. Then on the expiration of the delusion, intelligence again came to me. Now I think that there is no domain (of mine), or that everything is my domain. Even this self is not mine, or the whole earth is mine. And as mine, so (is it) that of others too, I believe, O best of the twice-born! Live (here, therefore) while you desire, and enjoy while you live 4.
Footnotes :
1. On getting rid of the notion that this, that, and the other thing is one's own,--Arguna Misra. Nilakantha agrees, and adds also on the subject of cutting off avarice.
2. That is to say, Rahu.
3. Meaning, apparently, that over which he and no one else has power. He contracts his vision gradually, and finds nothing at all which he can call his own to the exclusion of others. He explains, further on, bow he arrives at the alternative conviction stated towards the close of this speech. In the Brihadaranyaka he is said to have offered his kingdom to Yagnavalkya and himself as his slave, after learning the Brahma-vidya. See too Muir, Sanskrit Texts, vol. iv.
4. See Santi Parvan (Moksha) I, 13.
|
