Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c18.91

v2.c18.91

a shining lot in the world beyond. If a man is a warrior, and, wishing only to live, shows not, to the best of his power, fiery strength in bold deeds, then he is deemed a thief. We are they with whom others find refuge and sustenance, and we hearken to no one; if I have to live in dependence on another, then I will leave life behind me. Be thou our shore in the shoreless, our ship where there is no ship, give us dead ones life again. I know the heart of the Kshattriya man as it ever and always is, as it has been proclaimed by forefathers and their forefathers, by descendants and the descendants of descendants,¹ made to be everlasting and deathless by Prajāpati. Only upwards shall he strive, never must he bow himself, for in upward striving is manhood; he may break in irreparable misfortune,² but never on earth bow before any man.³ For fighting is the noble man made, and for victory. Whether he conquers or is overcome,⁴ he goes into Indra's world. And even in Indra's holy house in heaven there is not that happiness the warrior feels who has trodden his foes beneath him. He gives up his own life, or he cuts down the foe; there is no other way to bring him peace. The foolish man wants little that is unpleasing here on earth. He that in the world has little that is pleasing has certainly little that is unpleasing. But if a man has nothing pleasing (no great love, no fair happiness for which he strives), then he never wins dazzling greatness, and inevitably loses himself in nothingness, like the Ganges in the sea.¹ With all energy to raise himself, to watch, and to be ever exerting himself in deeds that lead to success—this is the whole duty of man; he must never waver, he must only think: It will be. To such a one good fortune comes as the sun comes to the east.” The son reproaches his mother with having a heart of black iron; what advantage is it to her, he asks, if her only son is dead! But she will not give in; and in the end he pulls himself together, and does what she wants.