Chapter 19

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I am conversant with both the Vedas and thescriptures that lead to the attainment of Brahma. In the Vedas there areprecepts of both kinds, viz., those that inculcate action and those thatinculcate renouncement of action. The scriptures are confounding andtheir conclusions are based upon reasons. The truth, however, that is inthe Mantras, is duly known to me. Thou art conversant only with weaponsand observant of the practices of heroes. Thou art unable to understandtruly the sense of the scriptures. If thou wert really acquainted withduty, then thou couldst have understood that words such as these oughtnot to have been addressed to me by even one possessed of the clearestinsight into the meaning of the scriptures and acquainted with the truthsof religion. That, however, which thou hast said unto me, induced byfraternal affection, has been fit and proper, O son of Kunti! I am, forthat, pleased with thee, O Arjuna! There is no one equal to thee in thethree worlds in all duties connected with battle and in skill in respectof diverse kinds of acts. Thou mayst, therefore, speak of the subtletiesconnected with those subjects,–subtleties, that is, that areimpenetrable by others. It behoveth thee not, however, O Dhananjaya, todoubt my intelligence. Thou art conversant with the science of battle,but thou hast never waited upon the aged. Thou knowest not theconclusions arrived at by those that have studied the subject in briefand detail. Even this is the conclusion of intelligent men whoseunderstanding are bent on achieving salvation, viz., that amongst asceticpenances, renunciation, and knowledge of Brahma, the second is superiorto the first, and the third is superior to the second. This, however,that thou thinkest, viz., that there is nothing superior to wealth, is anerror. I will convince thee of it, so that wealth may not again appear tothee in that light. All men that are righteous are seen to be devoted toascetic penances and the study of the Vedas. The Rishis also, that havemany eternal regions for them, have the merit of penances. Otherspossessed of tranquillity of soul, having no enemies, and dwelling in thewoods, have, through penances and study of the Vedas, proceeded toheaven. Pious men, by restraining desire for worldly possessions, andcasting off that darkness which is born of folly, proceed northward(i.e., by luminous paths) to the regions reserved for practisers ofrenunciation. The path that lies to the south and that leads to regionsof light (i.e., lunar regions), are reserved for men devoted to action.These are attained by persons subject to birth and death. That end,however, which persons desirous of salvation have before their eyes, isindescribable. Yoga is the best means for attaining to it. It is not easyto explain it (to thee). Those that are learned live, reflecting on thescriptures from desire of finding what is unreal. They are, however,often led away to this and to that in the belief that the object of theirsearch exists in this and that. Having mastered, however, the Vedas, theAranyakas, and the other scriptures, they miss the real, like men failingto find solid timber in an uprooted banana plant. Some there are who.,disbelieving in its unity, regard the Soul, that dwells in this physicalframe consisting of the five elements, to be possessed of the attributesof desire and aversion (and others).[62] Incapable of being seen by theeye, exceedingly subtle, and inexpressible by words, it revolves in around (of re-births) among the creatures of the earth, keeping before itthat which is the root of action.[63] Having made the Soul advancetowards itself which is the spring of every kind of blessedness, havingrestrained all desires of the mind, and having cast off all kinds ofaction, one may become perfectly independent and happy. When there issuch a path that is trod by the righteous and that is attainable byKnowledge, why, O Arjuna, dost thou applaud wealth which is full of everykind of calamity? Men of olden times that were conversant with thescriptures, O Bharata,–men that were always engaged in gifts andsacrifice and action, were of this opinion. O Bharata! There are somefools who, accomplished in the science of argumentation, deny theexistence of the Soul, in consequence of the strength of theirconvictions of a previous life. It is very difficult to make them acceptthis truth about final emancipation.[64] Those wicked men, thoughpossessed of great learning, travel all over the earth, making speechesin assemblies, and deprecating the true doctrine about emancipation. OPartha, who else will succeed in understanding that which we do notunderstand?’ Indeed, (as those men cannot understand the true meaning ofthe scriptures), similarly they cannot succeed in knowing those wise andpious persons that are truly great and that have deep acquaintance withthe scriptures. O son of Kunti, men acquainted with truth obtain Brahmaby asceticism and intelligence, and great happiness by renunciation.’