Harivamsha 14

English (machine translation) 14

Language: English

14.1

Mārkaṇḍeya said: / In a former yuga, dear one, there were brahmins, the sons of Bharadvāja; / having attained the dharma of yoga, they fell away because of misconduct.

14.2

Having transgressed the dharma of yoga, they suffered a downfall; / on the other shore of the great darkness of the mind, they were rendered unconscious.

14.3

Brooding on that very goal, lost as if in waters, bewildered, / failing to attain yoga, they all succumbed to the law of time.

14.4

Then, having fallen from yoga and dwelt long among the gods, / they were born as the heirs of Kauśika in Kurukṣetra, O bull among men.

14.5

Intending to follow dharma through violence, by an act done against their father, / they, fallen, shall then again enter a despicable birth.

14.6

Through the grace of their father and their actions in previous births, / recollection will arise in them as they enter each reprehensible birth.

14.7

Constantly practicing dharma, they will become concentrated in mind; / by their own deed, they will then regain the state of a brahmin.

14.8

And then they will attain again the yoga practiced in previous births; / having once more reached perfection, they will reach the eternal abode.

14.9

Thus your intellect will dwell on dharma again and again, / and, devoted to the dharma of yoga, you will attain supreme perfection.

14.9x281-1

For yoga is always difficult to attain by those of little wisdom at any time.

14.9x281-2

Even having attained it, they destroy it through vices, driven to bitter sorrow.

14.9x281-3

They abide only in adharma and continually torment their guru.

14.9x281-4

They do not ask for what should not be asked, and they protect those who seek refuge;

14.9x281-5

they do not despise the wretched, and they are not intoxicated by the heat of wealth;

14.9x281-6

measured in food and recreation, measured in their efforts in their duties,

14.9x281-7

absorbed in meditation and study, not seeking after lost things;

14.9x281-8

never delighting in pleasures, not eating meat or honey;

14.9x281-9

not always devoted to desire, nor servile to the wealthy;

14.9x281-10

not clinging to ignoble conversations, and not overcome by indolence;

14.9x281-11

not excessively attached in mind, nor delighting in gatherings—

14.9x281-12

such men attain yoga; yoga is indeed difficult to attain on earth.

14.9x281-13

Calm, with anger conquered, free from pride and egoism,

14.9x281-14

those who are vessels of good fortune become restrained in their vows.

14.9x281-15

Such indeed were those brahmins at that time, dear one.

14.9x281-16

They remember their own fault committed out of heedlessness,

14.9x281-17

and, joined with meditation and study, established on the path of peace,

14.9x282-1

they quickly obtain supreme peace, there is no doubt of this.

14.9x282-2

Therefore you too, O knower of dharma, be dedicated to the dharma of yoga.

14.10

For there is no dharma higher than the dharma of yoga, O knower of dharma; / practice that, the foremost of all dharmas, O Bhārgava.

In the fullness of time, eating lightly, with senses mastered, / intent on that, disciplined, and full of faith, you will attain the dharma of yoga.” / Having spoken thus, the blessed god vanished right there.

14.12

It seemed to me as if eighteen years were but a single day; / and eighteen years indeed passed for me worshipping the lord of gods.

14.13

By the grace of that god there was no weariness then; / I did not know hunger, thirst, or time then, O sinless one. / Afterward, only from my disciple did I learn the time.

Linked texts (1)

Harivaṃśa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit