Through speaking ill (parīvādāt) of his preceptor, a man will be born an ass; if he reviles him, a dog; if he uses his property without leave, a worm; if he envies him, an insect (II. 201). If a man steal grain he shall be born a mouse; if brass, a gander; if water, a water-duck; if honey, a gad-fly; if milk, a crow; if syrup, a dog; if ghee, a weasel (XII. 62). A Brahman neglecting his own appointed caste duty (dharmāt svakāt) will be born as a vomit-eating demon; a Kshatriya, as a demon feeding on excrement and dead bodies; a Vaiśya, as a demon feeding on putrid carrion (Ulka-mukha, Kața-putana, and Maitrāksha-jyotika, XII. 71, 72). A stealer of grain will be afflicted with dyspepsia (in a future existence); a stealer of the words (of the Veda, by repeating it without authority), with dumbness; a stealer of cloth, with leprosy; a horse-stealer, with lameness (XI. 51). Compare p. 2751. 1 It may be interesting to annex to this Lecture a few of the statements of Megasthenes (300 years B. C.) about the Brahmans (Strabo XV. 1, 59) They practise the greatest austerities to prepare for death (ἀσκήσει πλείστῃ χρῆσθαι πρὸς τὸ ἑτοιμοθάνατον), which they hold to be birth to a real and happy life (γένεσιν εἰς τὸν ὄντως βίον καὶ τὸν εὐδαίμονα); they maintain that nothing of what happens to men is good or bad; that the world was created and is perishable; that it is spheroidal; that the God who made and rules it pervades every part of it; that water was the first element created; that besides the four elements there is a fifth (πpòs τοῖς τέτταρσι στοιχείοις πέμπτη τίς ἐστι φύσις); and that the earth is in the centre of the universe. Besides, like Plato, they weave many fables (μúlovs) about the immortality of the soul and punishments in hell. As to the Hindus generally-they are ignorant of writing, have no written laws, and arrange everything from memory (XV. 53, 66). They do not employ slaves (54). They worship Jupiter Pluvius (ròv öμßiov Aía), the river Ganges, and the gods of the country; those who live in the mountains worship Dionysos (=Siva); those in the plains, Herakles (= Vishnu, XV. 58, 69); they never drink wine except at sacrifices (53). It is not permitted to any one to marry a person of another caste, nor to change from one business or trade to another, nor to engage in many pursuits, unless he belong to the caste of philosophers (XV. 49). These philosophers are of two kinds, Brachmanes and Garmanes (Bpaxuâves, Tapμāves=Brāhmans and Sramanas or Buddhist ascetics, 59). Both practise endurance (Kapтepíav), and will remain a whole day in one posture without moving (60. Cf. also XV. 61, 63).' I LECTURE XI. The Law-books-Manu continued. NOW endeavour to give, as literally as possible, a metrical version of some of Manu's most noteworthy precepts, selected from different parts of the Code, under the four heads of Acara, 'rules of conduct;' Vyavahāra, 'rules of government and judicature;' Prayas-ćitta, ‘penance ;' Karma-phala, ' rewards and punishments of acts.' Āćāra, 'rules of conduct.' A Brahman from exalted birth is called A god among the gods, and is a measure Of truth for all the world, so says the Veda (XI. 84). Knowledge', descending from her home divine, Said to a holy Brahman, I am come To be thy cherished treasure, trust me not To scorners, but to careful guardians, Pure, self-restrained, and pious; so in them I shall be gifted with resistless power (II. 114, 115). The man with hoary head is not revered As aged by the gods, but only he Who has true knowledge; he, though young, is old (II. 156). A wooden elephant, an antelope Of leather, and a Brahman without knowledge These are three things that only bear a name (II. 157). As with laborious toil the husbandman, Digging with spade beneath the ground, arrives At springs of living water, so the man Who searches eagerly for truth will find The knowledge hidden in his teacher's mind (II. 118). 1 In II. 117 knowledge is divided into three parts-1. Laukika, 'secular; 2. Vaidika, 'Vedic;' 3. Adhyatmika, 'spiritual' or that which relates to soul. 2 Strabo XV. 1, 54, says of the Hindus, Oidè tŷ ýλikią tŵv yepártov προνομίαν διδόασιν ἂν μὴ καὶ τῷ φρονεῖν πλεονεκτῶσι. With pain the mother to her child gives birth, Though he should strive through centuries of time (II. 227). Thy father, mother, teacher-these obey. By deep devotion seek thy debt to pay. This is thy highest duty and religion (II. 228). Who finds around him only wicked sons, Sweet speech and gentleness from e'en a child, Utter no word to pain thy fellow-creatures (II. 161). Say what is true, speak not agreeable falsehood (IV. 138). Treat no one with disdain', with patience bear Reviling language; with an angry man Be never angry; blessings give for curses (VI. 47, 48). E'en as a driver checks his restive steeds, Do thou, if thou art wise, restrain thy passions, 1 In IV. 135 the householder is especially warned against treating with contempt a Brahman well versed in the Veda, a Kshatriya, and a serpent, because (says Kullūka) the first has the power of destroying him by his unseen power of magical texts and spells, the other two by their seen power (dṛishṭa-śaktyā). Cf. the passages relative to the power of the Brahmans, translated p. 241. According to thy substance; only see That he to whom thou givest worthy be (IV. 227, 228). Pride not thyself on thy religious works, Give to the poor, but talk not of thy gifts. By pride religious merit melts away, The merit of thy alms by ostentation (IV. 236, 237). None sees us, say the sinful in their hearts; Yes, the gods see them, and the omniscient Spirit 'I am alone,' but there resides within thee A Being who inspects thy every act, Knows all thy goodness and thy wickedness (VIII. 85, 91). The soul is its own witness; yea, the soul Itself is its own refuge; grieve thou not, O man, thy soul, the great internal Witness (VIII. 84). The Firmament, the Earth, the Sea, the Moon, All constantly survey the acts of men (VIII. 86). No gift of alms, nor round of strict observance Within thy breast thou hast no controversy, Nor make a pilgrimage to Kuru's fields (VIII. 92)3. / Iniquity once practised, like a seed, Fails not to yield its fruit to him who wrought it, If not to him, yet to his sons and grandsons (IV. 173). Contentment is the root of happiness, And discontent the root of misery. Wouldst thou be happy, be thou moderate (IV. 12). 1 See the account of the Sandhyās, p. 248. 3 See note I, p. 251. 2 Yama, see p. 21. Eat it contentedly and joyfully, Ne'er hold it in contempt; avoid excess, Shrink thou from worldly honour as from poison, Single is every living creature born, Single he passes to another world, Single he eats the fruit of evil deeds, Single, the fruit of good; and when he leaves His body like a log or heap of clay Upon the ground, his kinsmen walk away; Virtue alone stays by him at the tomb And bears him through the dreary trackless gloom (IV. 240–242)1. Thou canst not gather what thou dost not sow; As thou dost plant the tree so will it grow (IX. 40). Depend not on another, rather lean Upon thyself; trust to thine own exertions. Subjection to another's will gives pain; True happiness consists in self-reliance (IV. 160). Strive to complete the task thou hast commenced; 1 Dr. Muir has pointed out that the expression tamas tarati dustaram, 'he crosses the gloom difficult to be passed,' may be taken from Atharvaveda IX. 5. 1, tīrtvā tamāṇsi bahudhā mahānti. |