DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9550#0081
by the Veds in performing sacrifices, and those laid
down by the Smrities at the digging of wells and other
pious liberal actions, are the most beneficial, and have
no idea that a knowledge of, and faith in God, are the
only true sources of bliss. They, after death, having
enjoyed the consequence of such rites on the summit
of heaven, transmigrate in the human form, or in that
of inferior animals, or of plants.
» Mendicants and hermits, who residing in forests,
live upon alms, as well as householders possessed of
a portion of wisdom, practising religious austerities, the
worship of Brahma and others, and exercising a control
over the senses, freed from sins, ascend through
the northern path* to the highest part of heaven, where
the immortal Brahma, who is coeval with the world,
assumes his supremacy.
Having taken into serious consideration the perish-
able nature of all objects within the world, which
are acquirable from human works, a Brahmun shall
cease to desire them; reflecting within himself, that
nothing which is obtained through perishable means
can be expected to be eternal: hence what use of
rites ? He then, with a view to acquire a knowledge
of superior learning, shall proceed, with a load of wood
* According to Hindoo theologians, there are two roads that
lead to distinct heavens, one northern, the other southern. The
former is the path to the habitation of Bruhma and the superior
gods, and the latter to the heaven of Indra and the other inferior
deities.
♦
down by the Smrities at the digging of wells and other
pious liberal actions, are the most beneficial, and have
no idea that a knowledge of, and faith in God, are the
only true sources of bliss. They, after death, having
enjoyed the consequence of such rites on the summit
of heaven, transmigrate in the human form, or in that
of inferior animals, or of plants.
» Mendicants and hermits, who residing in forests,
live upon alms, as well as householders possessed of
a portion of wisdom, practising religious austerities, the
worship of Brahma and others, and exercising a control
over the senses, freed from sins, ascend through
the northern path* to the highest part of heaven, where
the immortal Brahma, who is coeval with the world,
assumes his supremacy.
Having taken into serious consideration the perish-
able nature of all objects within the world, which
are acquirable from human works, a Brahmun shall
cease to desire them; reflecting within himself, that
nothing which is obtained through perishable means
can be expected to be eternal: hence what use of
rites ? He then, with a view to acquire a knowledge
of superior learning, shall proceed, with a load of wood
* According to Hindoo theologians, there are two roads that
lead to distinct heavens, one northern, the other southern. The
former is the path to the habitation of Bruhma and the superior
gods, and the latter to the heaven of Indra and the other inferior
deities.
♦