Our safety is in the skill with which we keep the diagonal line. Solitude is impracticable and society fatal. We must keep our head in the one and our hands in the other. Keep your independence, yet do not lose your sympathy.
Says Montesquieu:
“Countries are well cultivated not as they are fertile, but as they are free.” And the remark holds not less _ but more true of the culture of men than of the tillage of land.
* * * *
“It is too late to be studying Hebrew (Sanskrit); it is more important to understand even the slang of today.” – Thoreau.
Apparent contradictions in Bhagavad Gita
I. (a) Yadgatvaa na nivartante
taddhaama paramam mama
(b) Sambhavaami yuge yuge
II. (a) Chaturvidhaa bhajante maam…
Jnaani tvaatmaiva me matam VII 16-17
(b) Yogi exalted above all. VI 46
III (a) Nahi Jnanena sadrisam
pavitramiha vidyate
Tatsvayam Yogasamsiddhah
kaalenaatmani vindanti IV 38
There is in this world no means of sanctification like knowledge and that one perfected by devotion finds in one’s self in time.
In Aitareya Brahman, the glory of the Saurian is declared to be higher than that of the Rik.
In the Chhandogya Upanishad, the same is said to be the essence of the Rik.
Shankar declares the Saman as more weighty.
Gita speaks the same way,
Now Manu, IV, 123-124 declares the sound of Sama-Veda unholy.
Apastamba Dharma-Sutra groups the Saman sound with the noises of dogs and asses,
Gita refers to the duties of Caste depending upon inner qualities.
Apastamba and Manu inculcate the prerogatives of Caste expressly depending on heredity.
Mark the difference of stress on duty and prerogative.