SONG CELESTIAL Version 1.0 *************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************* Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. This E-text of the Song Celestial by Sir Edwin Arnold is based upon the Quest Miniature edition of 1975 e.v., second printing. The Sanskrit text has been omitted due to the impossibility of representing it in plain western text format. Where italic text is to be represented it is enclosed in angled <> brackets. All footnotes are the originals of the author, and are enclosed in curved () brackets. All responsibility for use, misuse, abuse, or injury, are totally the responsibilty of the responsible parties, and not the responsibility of the parties responsible for this e-text, or those responsible for its distribution. No copyrights are retained upon this e-text of the Song Celestial, it is rendered into the public domain. Key entry by Monroe P. Munro. Love is the law, love under will. ********************************************************************************* ***************************************************************************** The Song Celestial A poetic version of the Bhagavad Gita (from the Mahabharata) Translated from the Sanskrit Text By Sir Edwin Arnold, M.A., K.C.I.E, C.S.I. PREFACE. This famous and marvellous Sanskrit poem occurs as an episode of the , in the sixth -- or "" -- Parva of the great Hindoo epic. It enjoys immense popularity and authority in India, where it is reckoned as one of the "Five Jewels", ---- of Devanagari literature. In plain but noble language it unfolds a philosophical system which remains to this day the prevailing Brahmanic belief, blending as it does the doctrines of Kapila, Patanjali, and the Vedas. So lofty are many of its declarations, so sublime its aspirations, so pure and tender its piety, that Schlegel, after his study of the poem, breaks forth into this outburst of delight and praise towards its unknown author: "" Lassen re-echoes this splendid tribute; and indeed, so stricking are some of the moralitis her inculcated, and so close the parallelism -- oftimes actually verbal!-- between its teachings and those of the New Testament, that a controversy has arisen between Pandits and Missionaries on the point whether the author borrowed from Christian sources, or the Evangelists and Apostles from him. This raises the question of its date, which cannot be positively settled. It must have been inlaid into the ancient epic at a period later than that of the original , but Mr. Kasinath Telang has offered some fair argument to prove it anterior to the Christian era. The weight of evidence, however, tends to place its composition at about the third century after Christ; and perhaps there are really echoes in this Brahmanic poem of the lesson of Galilee, and of the Syrian incarnation. Its scene is the level country between the Jumna and the Sarsoota rivers-- -- now Kurnal and Jheend. Its simple plot consists of a dialogue held by Prince Arjuna, the brother of King Yudhisthra, with Krishna, the Supreme Deity, wearing the disguise of a charioteer. A great battle is impending between the armies of the Kauravas and Pandavas, and this conversation is maintained in a war chariot drawn up between the opposing hosts. The poem has been turned into French by Burnouf, into Latin by Lassen, into Italian by Stanislav Gatti, into Greek by Galanos, and into English by Mr. Thomson and Mr. Davies, the prose transcript of the last-named being truly beyond praise for its fidelity and clearness. Mr. Telong has also published at Bombay a version in colloquial rhythm, eminently learned and intelligent, but not conveying the dignity or grace of the original. If I venture to offer a translation of the wonderful poem after so many superior scholars, it is in grateful recognition of the help derived from their labours and because English literature would certainly be incomplete without possessing in popular form a poetical and philosophical work so dear to India. There is litle else to say which the "Song Celestial" does not explain for itself. The Sanskrit original is written in the metre, which cannot be successfully reproduced for Western ears. I have therefore cast it into our flexible blank verse, changing into lyrical measures where the text itself similarly breaks. For the most part, I believe the sense to be faithfully preserved in the following pages; but Schlegel himself had to say: "" Those who would read more upon the philosophy of the poem may find an admirable introduction in the volume of Mr. Davies, printed by Messrs. Trubner & Co. Edwin Arnold, C.S.I. DEDICATION. --- TO INDIA. [Sanskrit text.] ---