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BHAGAVADGTTÅ.
56
desire, without any feeling that this or that is) mine, and without any mental trouble! Even those men who always act on this opinion of mine, full of faith, and without carping, are released from all actions. But those who carp at my opinion and do not act upon it, know them to be devoid of discrimination, deluded as regards all knowledge, and ruined. Even a man of knowledge acts consonantly to his own nature?. All beings follow nature. What will restraint effect? Every sense has its affections and aversions towards its objects fixed. One should not become subject to them, for they are one's opponents. One's own duty, though defective, is better than another's duty well performed. Death in (performing) one's own duty is preferable ; the (performance of the) duty of others is dangerous.
Arguna said: But by whom, O descendant of Vrishni! is man impelled, even though unwilling, and, as it were, constrained by force, to commit sin ?
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· About the consequences of your actions. " Or actions, or of the Brahman in its various forms.
• Which is the result of the virtues and vices of a preceding life. The sequence of ideas here is as follows:- The true view stated here about the difference from qualities and actions' is disregarded by some, owing to their nature' as now explained.
n the question is, If nature is so potent, what is the good of the Sâstras? The answer is, Nature only acts through our likes and dislikes. Withstand them and then you can follow the Sâstras. It is under the influence of these likes and dislikes, that some may say, we shall practise dutics prescribed for others (our own being bad ones) as they are equally prescribed by the Såstras. That, as stated in the last sentence here, is wrong.
• Cf. Sutta Nipära, p. 101, as to likings and dislikings.'
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