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CHAPTER 1

  Dhritirashtra. Ranged thus for battle on the sacred plain —
  Sanjaya. When he beheld the host of Pandavas,
Then might be seen, upon their car of gold Yoked with white steeds, blowing their battle-shells,
  Thus, by Arjuna prayed, (O Bharata!)
  So speaking, in the face of those two hosts,
HERE ENDETH CHAPTER I OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA,

Entitled "Arjun-Vishad",
CHAPTER 2

  Sanjaya. Him, filled with such compassion and such grief,
  Krishna. How hath this weakness taken thee? Whence springs The inglorious trouble, shameful to the brave,
  Arjuna, How can I, in the battle, shoot with shafts On Bhishma, or on Drona — O thou Chief! —
Better to live on beggar's bread
  Sanjaya. So spake Arjuna to the Lord of Hearts,
  Nay, but as when one layeth
I say to thee weapons reach not the Life;
  This Life within all living things, my Prince!
And like the ocean, day by day receiving
So is the perfect one! to his soul's ocean
Yea! whoso, shaking off the yoke of flesh Lives lord, not servant, of his lusts; set free From pride, from passion, from the sin of "Self."
HERE ENDETH CHAPTER II OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA,

Entitled "[Sankhya-Yog,"
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "The Song Celestial"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Edwin Arnold.
Excerpted by permission of Theosophical Publishing House.
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