Mahabharata
Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
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The opening
SECTION CLXXIV (Mokshadharma Parva)
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast, O grandsire, discoursed upon the auspicious duties (of person in distress) connected with the duties of kings. It behoveth thee now, O king, to tell me those foremost of duties which belong to those who lead the (four) modes of life.’
“Bhishma said, ‘Keligion hath many doors. The observance of (the duties prescribed by) religion can never be futile. Duties have been laid down with respect to every mode of life. (The fruits of those duties are invisible, being attainable in the next world). The fruits, however, of Penance directed towards the soul are obtainable in this world. Whatever be the object to which one devotes oneself, that object, O Bharata, and nothing else, appears to one as the highest of acquisitions fraught with the greatest of blessings. When one reflects properly (one’s heart being purified by such reflection), one comes to know that the things of this world are as valueless as straw. Without doubt, one is then freed from attachment in respect of those things. When the world, 0 Yudhishthira, which is full of defects, is so constituted, every man of intelligence should strive for the attainment of the emancipation of his soul.’
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About this edition
- The words
- Kisari Mohan Ganguli's English translation, copied word for word.
- Left out
- Page numbers and running heads from the printed pages, in 3 places
- The title page and opening pages before chapter 1, in 2 places
- Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 5 places
- Other material that isn't the author's
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