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282
ANUGITA
is one hearer'; there is no second (different) from him. I speak concerning him who abides in the heart. Living under that instructor, (according to the proper mode of) living with an instructor, Sakras acquired immortality in all worlds. There is one enemy; there is no second (different) from him. I speak concerning him who abides in the heart. Taught by that instructor, all snakes whatever are ever hated in the world.
On this, too, they relate an ancient story,(about the) instruction of the snakes, and the gods, and sages, by Pragåpati. The gods, and sages, and the snakes, and the demons, approaching Pragâ pati, said to him): *Tell us the highest good.' To them who were inquiring about the highest good, the venerable one said,
Om, the Brahman, in a single syllable.' Hearing that, they ran away in (various) directions. When they were running for instruction regarding the self, the inclination of the snakes to biting had been already formed. The natural inclination of the demons towards ostentatiousness had been formed. The gods had been engaged in gifts, and the great sages in restraint of the senses. Having had one teacher,
· Nilakantha takes this to mean pupil, but it is difficult to reconcile that with the rest of the passage. Arguna Misra renders it by
the destroyer of every one's doubts. For that, it will be necessary to take the word as a form of the causative, and not the simple room sru, to hear. But see, too, p. 283, the instructor ... the bearer.'
• Cf. Sauatsugaliya, p. 152, note i.
· The words here are nearly the same as before ; the commenld. tors give no explanation of the repetition. But see p. 281, note a.
• Cr. Gitá, p. 79. The full sense is that from the study of this Om the highest goud is attained.
• I. c. to their own dwellings, believing that they had learnt what they wanted.
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