Zend Avesta Part 01

SR No.: 007671
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: James Darmesteter
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1895
Total Pages: 2695
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 49 MB

Page 2024

CHAPTER III, 27.
169
beyond all misery without distinction? That being achieved, (everything) is accomplished. The (first is the) giving away of sons and wealth to a deserving man who asks (for them); the second is gifts at Vedic ceremonies, and gifts at ceremonies laid down in the Smritis: The abandonment of desires, O king of kings! by means of indifference (to worldly objects) is laid down as the third *. With these one should become free from heedlessness. That freedom from heedlessness, too, has eight characteristics, and is (a) great (merit). Truthfulness, concentration, absorbed contemplation, reflexion', and also indifference (to worldly objects), not stealing, living the life of a Brahmakärin, and
Scil. any distinction as to physical, mental, or that which is caused by superhuman agency.
' Literally, all is conquered. Everything that needs to be done is donc. Cf. Kathopanishad, p. 155; Mundaka, p. 317.
• Another interpretation of ishsaporta is offerings to gods, and offerings to the manes;' a third 'sacrifices, &c., and works of charity, such as digging tanks and wells ;' for a fourth, see Sankara on Mundaka, p. 291.
• Each of the three classes mentioned contains two sub-classes, and so the six are made up. It is not quite easy to scc the two beads under the third class; but perhaps indifference, and the consequent abandonment of desire, may be the two intended. To indicate that, I have adopted the construction which takes the words by mcans of indifference' with abandonment, instead of with 'gists at l'edic ceremonies,' &c. Sankara seems to understand
giving away of wealtb' with the words by means of indifference,' and thus to constitute the second bead under the third class. But be is not quite clear.
• Concentration=fixing the mind continuously on some objecti, such as the being in the sun, &c.; contemplation is that in which one identifies oneself with the Brahman; reficxion as to what one is, whence one comes, and so forth.
• Sankara says this may refer to the 'sicaling' mentioned at p. 160. The life of a Brahmakarin is bere taken to mean con
Digitized by Google