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CHAPTER XVII, 21.
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was, (I thought of) the Vedic text about anybody's property, (hence) I could not find by my intelligence anything that should be (called) mine! Resorting to this conviction, I have got rid of (the notion that this or that is) mine. Now hear the conviction, holding which, my domain (appears to me to be) everywhere. I do not desire for myself even smells existing in the nose. Therefore the earth being conquered is always subject to me. I do not desire for myself tastes even dwelling in the mouth. Therefore water being conquered is always subject to me. I do not desire for myself the colour (or) light appertaining to the eye. Therefore light being conquered is always subject to me. I do not desire for myself the (feelings of touch) which exist in the skin. Therefore air being conquered is always Mithila is on fire, nothing of mine is burnt in it).' The verse occurs in the Mahabharata, Sånti Parvan (Moksha Dharma), chap. 178, st. 3, and also chap. 376, st. 4. See too Muir, Sanskrit Texts, vol. I, p. 429.
" This is not clear. I have followed Nflakantha's text. Arguna Misra's is in the earlier part more intelligible, Whose is this to-day, whose to-morrow?' But I cannot find that there is any Vedic text to this effect. Nilakantha cites on his text isopanishad, p. 5. The meaning here seems to be, 'When I considered as to whom the things I saw in my thoughts belonged to, I remembered the Vedic text that one should not wish to obtain another's property, and so, thinking about the matter with that caution, I could not make out that there was anything which I could call my own.'
* This is the alternative conclusion he has come to.
• The sense of smell enjoys the smell, my self has nothing 10 do with it. Cf. Gitá, p. 55, also Maitri, pp. 112, 113.
• Whenever there is any smell, it is supposed that particles of carth are there ; 80 the meaning here is all things having the quality of smell are subject to me,' and go throughout. The objects of sense are all used for the purposes of the prescribed actions, the benefits of which accrue to gods, &c. Cf. Gitá, pp. 53, 64. and see also pp. 84, 85.
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