Appendix 1
THE BHAGAVAD GITA
A Verse Translation
Geoffrey Parrinder
4
Wisdom
The Blessed Lord said:
1 This is the Yoga I proclaimed to Vivasvat and 'tis
unchanged, Vivasvat to Manu did unfold what Manu to Ikshvaku told.
2 The royal sages knew of it successively in line,
until this Yoga disappeared from earth in course of time.
3 This ancient Yoga, just the same, I now to you
proclaim, this is the highest mystery for you My friend and devotee.
Arjuna said:
4 Vivasvat's birth was earlier and later on Your
birth occurred, that You proclaimed it first how may I understand this
word?
The Blessed Lord said:
5 Many a birth have I passed through, and many came
to you, yet all of Mine I know but yours you do not know.
6 My self is
changeless and unborn, and I am Lord of beings, but using Nature, which
is Mine, by My own power I come into being.
7 Whenever there
appears on earth decline of Righteousness, uprising of Unrighteousness,
I send Myself to birth.
8 For protection of
the good, the wicked put to flight, I come into being age by age
establishing the Right.
9 My actions and My godly birth just as they are,
whoever knows on dying not towards rebirth but on to Me he goes.
10 Relieved of passion, fear and wrath, with Me their
refuge, full of Me, many have come to My estate cleansed by wisdom's
austerity.
11 Whatever way they come to Me, wherever they may
be, 'tis always in My path they go and I return their love just so. ...
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