History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c94.379

v7.c94.379

Doubt has been and is a frequent and legitimate attitude of the mind as recognised by the Br. Up. (I 5. 3) 'Kāmaḥ saṅkalpo vicikitsā śraddhā, aśraddhā, dhṛtir, adhṛtir hrīr-dhīr-bhīr-etyetat sarvaṁ mana eva' (desire, fancy, doubt, faith, want of faith, steadiness, restlessness, shame, understanding, fear, all these are aspects of mind). Even the Ṛgveda (II. 12. 5) refers to doubters about Indra (utem āhur-naiṣostītyenam'). In the Katha Up. Naciketas says "when a man dies there is the doubt, some saying 'he (the self) exists', others saying 'he ceases to exist" and prays to Yama to resolve that doubt for him as the third boon.