________________
VI, 843
THE ASCETIC.
213
becomes indifferent to all objects, he obtains eternal happiness both in this world and after death.
81. He who has in this manner gradually given up all attachments and is freed from all the pairs (of opposites), reposes in Brahman alone.
82. All that has been declared (above) depends on meditation ; for he who is not proficient in the knowledge of that which refers to the Soul reaps not the full reward of the performance of rites.
83. Let him constantly recite (those texts of) the Veda which refer to the sacrifice, (those) referring to the deities, and (those) which treat of the Soul and are contained in the concluding portions of the Veda (Vedânta).
84. That is the refuge of the ignorant, and even
81. “The pairs of opposites,' i.e. hunger and satiety and so forth (Gov.), or honour and dishonour (Kull.).
82. I follow Gov., Nâr., and Nand., who explain the verse to mean that all the teaching of the preceding chapters with respect to the four orders depends, as far as its ultimate result is concerned, on meditation, because, however well a man may fulfil the prescribed rites, he cannot reap the full reward without knowing and meditating on the Brahman. Kull, refers the phrase 'All that has been declared' to the contents of the last verse, and says that the complete freedom from all attachments and the repose in Brahman' depend on the recognition of the unity of the individual soul and of Brahman. He understands by kriyâphalam, the reward for the act of meditating.' Medh. begins with an explanation similar to that of Kull., but he takes finally kriyâphalam in the same sense as Gov., Nâr., and Nand. Râgh, explains yad etad abhisabditam by 'what can be expressed by words.'
83. Which refer to the sacrifice,' i.e. 'the Brâhmanas' (Medh., Gov., Nand.), or the Brahmaveda' (Kull., Nár.), or 'the Karmakânda,' e. g. ishe två Arge två (Vâg. Samh. I, 1), Râgh. Those referring to the deities,' i.e. Mantras describing the various deities' (Medh., Gov.), e.g. Rig-veda VIII, 44, 16 (Gov.). The third class of texts mentioned is that of the Upanishads; but see also Goldstücker, Sansk. Dict., S. v. adhyâtma.
Digitized by Google