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ANUGÍTÂ.
self of the kingdom'. He (then) restraining his own vices, and honouring good men, attained high perfection, and sang these verses: 'I have conquered most vices; destroyed all foes; but there is one, the greatest, vice which should be destroyed and which I have not destroyed—that (vice), being impelled by which, a creature does not attain freedom from desire, and being troubled by desire, understands (nothing) while running into ditches * ; (that vice), being impelled by which, a man even does what ought not to be done. That avarice-cut (it) off, cut (it) off with sharp swords. For from avarice 3 is born desire; then anxiety comes into existence; and he who desires, mostly acquires qualities appertaining to the quality of passion. Obtaining those, he mostly acquires qualities appertaining to the quality of darkness. When the bodily frame is destroyed, he, owing to these qualities, is born again and again, and engages in action. And at the expiration of life, again with his body dismembered and scattered about, he meets death, and again birth. Therefore, properly perceiving this, and restraining avarice by courage, one should wish for sovereignty in the self. This is sovereignty.; there is no other sovereignty here. The self properly understood is itself the sovereign.' Such were
'For the good of the people, says Arguna Misra. ? I.e. base actions, Nilakantha.
• Avarice, according to Arguna Misra, is the belief that one has not got that which one has, and desire is the wish for more and more. Avarice, seems, however, to be the general frame of mind. always wishing for something, never being contented, and desire is the wish for a specific object.
• Which are sources of delusion. Cf. a similar doctrine at Apec slamba II, 5, 140. Nilakantha compares Taittiriya, p. 36.
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