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XX, 31.
FUNERAL CEREMONIES.
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can be counted, but not the number of Forefathers' (Brahmans) who have passed away.
24. In each Kalpa, fourteen chiefs of the gods (Indras) go to destruction, as many rulers of the world (kings), and fourteen Manus.
25. And so have many thousands of Indras and hundred thousands of princes of the Daityas (such as Hiranyakasipu, Hiranyâksha, and others) been destroyed by Kala (time). What should one say of human beings then ?
26. Many royal Rishis too (such as Sagara), all of them renowned for their virtues, gods and Brahmanical Rishis (such as Kasyapas) have perished by the action of Kala.
27. Those even who have the power of creating and annihilating in this world (the sun, moon, and other heavenly bodies) continually perish by the act of Kâla; for Kala (time) is hard to overcome.
28. Every creature is seized upon by Kala and carried into the other world. It is the slave of its actions in a former existence). Wherefore then should you wail (on its death) ?
29. Those who are born are sure to die, and those who have died are sure to be born again. This is inevitable, and no associate can follow a man (in his passage through mundane existence).
30. As mourners will not help the dead in this world, therefore (the relatives) should not weep, but perform the obsequies to the best of their power.
31. As both his good and bad actions will follow
27. Here also Kala, the god of time, is another name for Vishnu. (Nand.)
29. The same proverb occurs in the Ramayana II, 84, 21, and in the Bhagavadgîtâ II, 27. See Böhtlingk, Ind. Sprüche, 2383.
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| SR No. | 007670 |
| Book Title | Upnishad |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Max Muller |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1879 |
| Total Pages | 1835 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 35 MB |