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In the Name of Shiva, the Most Glorious, the Most Obvious, the |
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SHRI SHIVA RAHASYA THE ELEVENTH LIGHT (Chapter Eleven) 11 Wherein
The Wheel of The Eternal Law is proclaimed for the Establishment of Righteousness on
Earth Om
is the Eternal Sound Supreme. Of that
all other sounds are born. Lord Shiva said: 1. I shall now set forth the Law of what is wrong
and what is right that It may enlighten the World with Its Glorious
Light. Dharma is the World-Protecting
Law. He who follows the Eternal Dharma
shall be protected against all misfortune and evil Karma.
2. O you who are Princes amongst men! know
that the Law whereby Life takes its course is of three kinds. That which has been laid down by the
forefathers or decreed by a Ruler and is followed by a whole community of
men, is the Law of Man. Being man-made
and imperfect, it shall be followed by the wise with wisdom and not
blindly. That which is followed
naturally by moving and unmoving things, is the Law of Nature. It shall be followed by beast, plant and
inanimate thing, each according to its distinctive nature and appropriate
place and time.
3. But that which is perfect, self-existing,
ever-changeless and followed by those who know the Truth, is the Law of
God. It is the Law of Laws whereby the
Universal Order (Vishvarta) is perpetually upheld. Being the Eternal Law of the Universe, it shall
be followed above all other laws and with great faith, for it is the Law of
Life and the direct manifestation of My Supreme Divine Self.
4. It is by the following of My Eternal Law
that I may be known and not by any other means. Let all Souls follow My Law for those who
follow It not cannot account themselves among the truly living. Even when alive they are as if dead. And being as if dead, they shall be cast
out from My Abode of Life into the Abode of Death. Therefore, let those who are true lovers of
Life and living seekers of Truth attend and listen to My Law Eternal by the
following whereof even the least-Enlightened Souls shall see the Light of
Truth.
5. O righteous ones! nothing exists but
I. I, the Supreme Being consisting of
Consciousness and Bliss, the Ever-Awake, the Dispeller of Darkness, the
Guardian of Law Eternal, Am One. And
Unity is My Highest Truth. It is by
the Power of Unity (Yoga Bala) that I, the Lord of Life, perceive Myself as
being One with Myself and with the World.
It is by the Power of Unity that Divine Oneness is preserved and the
All is held together.
6. It is by the Power of Unity that separate
things are joined to make a larger one: Raindrops make a River, Rivers make
an Ocean, Bricks make a House, Trees make a Forest, People make a Couple, a
Family and a Clan. It is by the Power
of Unity that a calf is found in the herd by the mother cow and a hunter
tracks down his quarry in the wood. It
is by the Power of Unity that an arrow finds its goal and sunlight ripens a
fruit.
7. It is by the Power of Unity that
perceptions come about as a sense is joined to its respective object. It is by the Power of Unity that separate
points of perception are united into a whole.
It is by the Power of Unity that knowledge is stored in the mind. It is by the Power of Unity that coherent
thoughts and sentences are fashioned and actions are performed.
8. It is by the Power of Unity that Body, Mind
and Soul are held together. It is by
the Power of Unity that memories of past events are forgathered and brought
back to the mind. It is by the Power
of Unity that soothsayers foresee things that are yet to come and Prophets
(Rishis or God-Seers) know the Truth that is hidden (to others). It is by the Power of Unity that two Souls
share the same dream and an Accomplished Yogi can read another man's
thoughts. 9. It is by the Power of Unity that wounds are
healed and an ailing body is made whole.
It is by the Power of Unity that a frail man regains his strength. It is by the Power of Unity that the ox is
harnessed to the plough. It is by the
Power of Unity that seed is sown, sprouts and takes root.
10. It is by the Power of Unity that beauty is
perceived by the eye and love arises in the heart. It is by the Power of Unity that humans are
attracted to one another and wild beasts find a mate. It is by the Power of Unity that the atoms
of life are held together and man finds what he has lost. It is by the Power of Unity that living
beings understand each other and men work together for a common cause.
11. It is by the Power of Unity that in waking,
man is united with the body and the physical World. It is by the Power of Unity that in dreams,
man is united with his mind. It is by
the Power of Unity that in deep sleep, man is united with his sleeping Soul.
It is by the Power of Unity that in Enlightenment, man is united with his
Awakened Self.
12. It is by the Power of Unity that I, the
Lord, Am United with My Creation and man is united with the object of his
heart's desire. It is by the Power of
Unity that all conflicts are ended and Peace is established in the
World. That Power which does make a
thing whole, lasting and complete; which brings two, ten, or a thousand
things together; and which preserves the life of everything: That is the
Power of Unity. That selfsame Power is
Yoga. For, Yoga is Unity and Unity is
Yoga.
13. By the Power of Yoga, peace is restored to
a troubled mind. By the Power of Yoga,
thoughts are concentrated in meditation and consciousness is unified in the
deep absorption of the Self. By the
Power of Yoga, man is united with the Lord.
By the Power of Yoga, the Brotherhood of Man and the Unity of Life are
preserved. By the Power of Yoga, My
Kingdom is established upon Earth. By
the Power of Yoga, this My Teaching is imparted unto those who desire to hear
the Truth. By the Power of Yoga,
Untruth shall be vanquished and Truth shall prevail in the World. There is nothing that cannot be achieved by
the Power of Yoga.
14. Verily One World Only exists. Its uppermost region is called Heaven,
whilst the nethermost part is called Hell.
Heaven is the Realm of Pure Unity with the Divine. Hell is where dis-Unity prevails. For Sin and dis-Unity are one and the
same. Earth is where both Unity and
dis-Unity, Virtue and Sin are found together.
The heavenward Path, that which leads upwards, is the Path to the
Divine. The downward Path leads down
into Hell.
15. Those who choose Heaven go up to My Abode
of Unity. But those who choose
dis-Unity, sink into Hell which is the Abode of Discord. The Accomplished Yogis, who are Masters of
Unity, live both in Heaven and on Earth.
They are free to roam the Universe at will like unto birds sailing
over the Wide Sky. At My Behest, they
spread abroad My Word of Unity to all quarters of the World.
16. O you who believe in Truth! follow the
Supreme Eternal Law, which I, the Lord, teach and proclaim unto you for the
benefit of all. By the following
thereof, one goes the upward Path which is the Path of Unity with Truth and
Freedom, chosen by the righteous ones.
Follow the Path of Unity. For
Unity is Life and dis-Unity is Death.
Unity and the One (Supreme Being) are One and the Same. Of Unity you were born, in Unity you live
and to Unity you shall return.
17. Whether in joy or in sorrow, in war or in
peace, in victory or in defeat; whether in Life or in Death, in this World or
in the next, My devotee should always strive to establish Unity with Me. For Sin and Separation are one and the
same. He who goes the way of
Separation goes the way of Sin. But he
who goes the way of Unity shall be United with Me. The struggle for Unity (Yoga Samgharsha,
also Dharma-Yuddha) is the Struggle for the Attainment of the One. This is man's first and last duty and My
Supreme Command.
18. Honour the Sky and the Earth. For in the likeness of Spirit and Matter I
made them and out of these I fashioned the World. You yourselves are the children of both and
they shall be honoured as a sign of My Creation.
19. Honour the Sun and the Moon. For they are the likeness of My Light
Divine and the most clear sign of My Glory.
And My Glory shall be honoured by all.
20. Honour the Stars that lighten the Sky at
night. For they are signs of My Law
Eternal by the following whereof men shall stumble not in the dark but safely
reach My Abode of Light.
21. Honour both Spirit and Matter as you honour
your own father and mother. For your
life depends upon these two: your Spiritual life upon Spirit and your
material life upon Matter. To
disrespect one's father and mother is wrong, but to despise or go against
them is a great sin. He who despises
Spirit or Matter shall go the downward way.
22. Honour and respect one another. For I Myself reside in all living
things. He who respects another,
respects Me, the All-Creator who live in the heart of all. Do not be too keen to lay blame on others. Know that when pointing one finger at
others' faults, three fingers are pointing back at yourself.
23. Do not destroy life, for all life belongs
to Me and is part of Me. And it is not
right to take what belongs to another.
He who takes a breathing creature's life for his own sustenance shall
have a price to pay. But unworthy life
may be taken in order that a worthier life may thrive. Verily, I give life unto each man that he
may live by My Law and do My Command; he who knowingly does otherwise shall
be unworthy of life. He who takes
another's life in defence of his homeland, of his people, of his livelihood,
and of his faith, does so lawfully.
For he who seeks to take away one's homeland, one's people, one's
livelihood, and one's faith in the Truth, is a man of evil (adharmi) and a
follower of the Untruth. Thus I, the
Lord, declare, It is one's duty to defend the Truth against the Untruth. I, the Highest Truth, the Supreme Lord of
Justice, Who am ever on the side of the righteous, shall not suffer the
followers of Untruth to stretch forth their arms against My devotees who
faithfully follow My Law.
24. He who fails to defend his homeland against
the enemy, who suffers men to be slain, womenfolk to be violated and children
to be carried off into slavery, he is a great sinner. But he who leads or allows fellow devotees
to be led, whether by force or by guile, unto other Paths than Mine is the
greatest sinner of all. Indeed, and
beyond doubt, such an one is a true enemy of men and of God. For separation from Truth is the greatest
crime.
25. Be therefore on your guard, for Truth on
Earth is corrupt and the Untruth finds easy pray. It is every man's duty to defend what is
true. Let every true man train in the
holy art of Righteous Struggle (Dharma-Yuddha) and become skilled in
defensive action in thought, word and deed.
For in this sinful Age of Darkness human kind cannot live in Peace and
in Truth without struggle.
26. If, unprovoked, the followers of Untruth
assail you and wage war on you, stand firm and fight back with force. Strike them down one by one till you have
crushed the last evil-doer in the land.
I Myself, the Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts, shall lead My
devotees in their righteous battle. I
shall strike down the evil ones with Bolts of Lightning and spear them all
with Flaming Arrows of Wrath. For I Am
the Great Fiery One. I Am the Avenger
of the oppressed and the Destroyer of the oppressors. I put Dread in the heart of the unjust and
Death in their Souls. I tear their
hearts to pieces and from their heads I fashion a necklace of skulls.
27. O righteous ones! when giving battle in My
Cause, My Fiery Might shall descend upon your Soul from On High and instil
boundless valour and strength in your heart.
As an Elephant in rut crushes all under his foot, as Wild Horses split
the Earth with thousand hooves, as the roar of raging Bulls does shake the
Sky, as a Thunderstorm lays waste the crop, even thus you shall defeat your
foes, when giving battle in My Cause.
28. My devotee shall not accept defeat in
battle but fight fearlessly to the death.
For it is far better to go to Heaven than live on Earth bound in
fetters like a beast. He who turns
back in battle shall be punished by the King.
When the enemy has been vanquished, compassion shall be shown only to
those who understand compassion, who repent, who turn away from evil and who
humbly enter upon My Path, but not to any others. Have no compassion for the evil and the
undeserving lest they mistake your kindness for weakness and double their
resolve to wreak destruction upon you.
29. Think not that those who have chosen the
Untruth are real men. They are but
mere shadow-like imitations of True Man.
True men being by nature Real, will not choose what is un-Real and
un-True. Verily, the Soul being ever
good and pure, does not mingle with evil but forsakes the evil one, leaving
behind a mere shell in the likeness of a man.
He who is forsaken by his Soul can only regain his self by being
destroyed in the cause of Dharma or by willingly submitting to My Law. Verily, though appearing to be living he is
akin to evil Spirits and ghosts. His
soulless shell must be removed from among the living even as chaff is removed
from corn. Even if some among the
evil-doers were real, it would be right to destroy them. For it is not the Will of Shiva, Who Is
Pure Goodness, that evil should prevail.
If evil were allowed to flourish, the World would be like to the
darkest Hell. Therefore, to destroy
what is evil is the duty of all righteous men.
30. Evil (Adharma) enters the heart of those
who oppose what is right. Having
entered therein it rules their life from within. Thus evil is brought into the World. He who allies himself with evil is the enemy
of Good. But he who destroys the
evil-doers does the Will of Supreme Shiva and treads the Path of
Righteousness. He prevents them from
doing harm to others and also unto themselves. For they who do evil shall be tormented
greatly in this World and the next.
But if they be prevented from doing evil they shall be preserved from
Hell. Therefore, taking the life of the
evil-doer is a true act of compassion, like taking a sharp sword out of a
child's hand. For the human body is
but a mere tool: it may be used for good and for evil too. It is better to destroy the body that the
Soul may be saved.
31. As a limb that is diseased beyond all cure
is cut off to save a man's life, even so he who is incurably diseased with
evil shall be cut down lest he infect the rest. Verily, he who prevents another man from
working deeds of evil and from transgressing against My Law, who hates no one
but dutifully destroys the evil-doer in obedience to My Command, is a
twice-saviour and a Saint: he saves the would-be slayer and the victim
too. But he who out of false
compassion spares the man of evil is twice a sinner: he lets the slayer go to
perdition and the victims too.
Therefore, let every man uproot evil and cultivate what is good, that
My Law (Dharma Shasana) may be established in all quarters of this Earth.
32. O you People of the Truth! do not ally yourselves
with evil. Choose wisely. For this
shall be the test of your faith and thereupon shall rest the judgement of
your life in this World. As all
worldly things have a shadow, so Truth on Earth has a shadow too. Only in My Abode of Light where all is
bright and clear there is no shadow, no Untruth and no lie. But on Earth, where light is obscured by
shadow, the Untruth finds easy pray.
For this reason, on Earth, some must die in order that others may
prevail. Let every man strive to
overcome the enemies of Truth. But he
who conquers both the outward and inward enemies, namely, fear, attachment
and the rest, is by far the best. He
becomes a Perfect One in this very lifetime. 33. O noble ones! let My followers be without
fear in their pursuit of Justice. For,
fear is the sign of the lowly. Out of
fear lowly folk never start a great work; ordinary men begin a work but give
up as soon as obstacles cross their path; but Great Souls never give up -
they strive in this life and the next until success is theirs. Verily, it were better to be fearless as a
tiger for even one day than to abide for a hundred years in dread like the
antelope, the hare and the goat. Thus
it has been said, The Flash of Lightning that lights up the World at a stroke
is greater than the fire that gives nothing but smoke. Fear not Death, for the righteous are the
Children of Truth and eternal life shall ever be theirs.
34. He who has fallen in the hands of the
enemy; whose body has grown frail and a burden on the Path; who lays down his
life to save another; or who desires to join a departed one; these four may
take their own life. In doing so they
shall commit no sin. They shall be
reborn in this World or another, each according to his deeds. As for those who lay down their earthly
life for My Sake, they shall receive the greatest honours. The Doors of Heaven and all Pathways shall
be wide open unto them and they shall go in peace wherever they desire. Verily, they are the greatest among Great
Heroes and they shall live ever-untouched by Death. A place of honour they shall take in
Heaven's Feasting-Hall of Bliss!
35. Follow you the Path of Truth. Seek Truth even in your dreams. Do not ally yourselves with Untruth at any
time. For Real Life is established upon
Truth. Man becomes Real by living in
the Real. Otherwise he lives in the
Lie and his life becomes a lie. And
the life that has become a lie shall go up in smoke even as a dark cloud is
burned up by the All-Consuming Sun of Truth.
Always speak the Truth. For whatsoever man speaks with his mouth that
he believes with his heart. And
whatsoever he believes with his heart the same shall come true. But that which the heart knows to be false
shall remain a lie. For the heart is
the abode of Truth Who is the Most Wise.
Verily, Truth is your Refuge and your Shelter. He who forsakes the Abode of Truth shall be
captured and devoured by Untruth.
36. Follow the Path of Peace. For Happiness is attained by living in peace
with oneself, with the World and with Me, the Great God and Lord of Supreme
Peace. It is Peace that brings lasting
Happiness to all.
37. Follow the Path of Spirit. For it is from the Great Spirit that you
come and to That you shall return. There
is no other Path.
38. Follow the Path of Good. Think good, speak good, do good. Firstly, think good thoughts. For even as the plough follows the ox,
one's words and deeds follow one's thoughts.
Verily, man is fashioned by his thoughts: what he thinks that he
becomes. His entire life is built upon
thoughts. It is for this reason that
man is called Manu, the Thinking One.
Secondly, speak good words. For
through kind words one comes far in life.
But he who knows when to speak and also when to remain silent, he
comes furthest of all.
39. Thirdly, do good deeds (satkarma). For as the size of a wild beast is known by
the tracks, large or small, that it makes as it passes through the forest, so
a man's greatness is known by the deeds he has accomplished in his life. And what a great man does, so do the others
too. He is an example to all. Thinking good, speaking good and doing good,
My devotee shall work for the good of all.
For whatever good is done to the Universe and to the things residing
therein, that is done to Me Who Am the One Soul of the Universe and of all
things.
40. Whatsoever is thought, spoken or done,
whether good or bad, shall return to one like the echo returning from a
rock. It shall follow one like a
shadow and bring one good or bad fortune according to one's deeds. Therefore, follow you My Command. Follow not the Path of Separation. Break not the Bond of Unity with
Truth. Enter not into the Abode of
Separation for Sin and Separation from Truth are one and the same. Know that Good is mightier than Evil. If only a few men amongst a thousand keep
to the Right Path (Satpatha), the World shall be saved from destruction. Be you the few amongst the thousand who
walk after Truth and not the many who go astray and willingly lose their way. 41. Follow the Path of Perfection. For Happiness is ever found in
Perfection. There is no Happiness in
imperfection. Verily, you are the
Children of the Perfect One and you shall rise above the earthly World to
attain Heaven's Perfection. And the
Great Bliss of Heaven shall be yours for all time.
42. I shall now proclaim the Five Holy Duties
of Yoga (Pancha-Dharma) whereby the Bond of Unity with Me is established and
by the following whereof all mortal men shall find Happiness in this World
and the next. They are, Declaration of
Faith, Remembrance of the Holy Name, Charity, Fasting and Pilgrimage.
43. Declaration of Faith: witnessing the Truth
of Yoga with the words, Lord Shiva is the Highest God and Yoga is the Path
that leads to Him. The uttering of
these words five times a day at sunrise, midday, sunset and between is known
as Shraddha or declaration of Faith.
By the observance thereof one becomes established on the Path. But he who cannot keep this observance five
times a day shall perform it at least twice: before sunrise and after sunset.
44. Remembrance of the Holy Name. Remembering My Name while uttering the
Great Mantra, Om Namah Shivaya, with great devotion, is called Smarana or
Remembrance of the Holy Name. The
regular practice thereof will confer to the devotee a Vision of My Divine
Self.
45. Charity is the offering of help Spiritual
and material, to fellow humans and in particular to one's fellow
devotees. It shall be done to the best
of one's knowledge and ability: kind words, food, shelter, clothing and gold
shall be given to those in need with compassion and humility. This is known as Daya or Charity. By this practice one comes closer to My
Creation and secures great rewards in this life and the next. Verily, one is always rewarded according to
one's generosity.
46. Fasting.
The abstaining from taking food once every month on the dark night
that comes before the Moonless Day and the First Crescent of the Moon, is
known as Shiva Ratri Upavasa or Fasting on the Holy Night of Shiva. But that Fast (Upavasana) which is observed
before the Moonless Night (Amavasya) in the Month of Magha (February - March,
see Commentary), is known as Maha Shiva Ratri or the Great Fast of
Shiva. It is the most excellent of all
Fasts. I bestow all kinds of Blessings
upon those who observe My Fast with devotion and remain watchful on that Holy
Night. For he who watches for the dawn
of the First Moon, watches for the Dawning of My Light Eternal and his name
shall be established in the Abode of the Awakened Ones. By the earnest practice of this Watchful
Fast My devotee is cleansed of sins and his Soul grows ever brighter even as
the New Moon grows in brightness every day.
47. Pilgrimage or Sacred Journey. At least once in a lifetime, My devotee
shall visit the Sacred Places of the Holy Land of India. Among these, the most auspicious is Holy
Mount Kailasa. It is set in the
northernmost part of India, beyond the Abode of Snow (Himalaya). Being a reflection of Mount Meru, My
Celestial Abode, it shines like a jewel among all Holy Places. It illumines the Nine Continents on
Earth. From the hills round about it
four mighty streams flow forth into the World like the Four Rivers of Life
and a lake of holy water lies at its feet.
The journey undertaken thereto is Yatra or Pilgrimage. Through the observance of this excellent
practice one becomes worthy of the Highest Heaven. I Myself whisper the Secret Knowledge that
leads to My Abode into the ear of those who with a pure Soul visit this
Holiest of holy places.
48. These Five Holy Practices (Pancha-Dharma)
are the Pillars of Unity whereby Divine Order is established and maintained
in the World. They shall be practised
by all My devotees without fail.
Indeed, they shall be practised by all of human kind.
49. The following of My Law enables one to know
how to act and conduct one's life always in the right way. For what is done in Unity with Me, whatever
that action may be, it shall be lawful, holy and pleasing to Me. But if doubts or disputes were to arise,
let them be settled by a Man of Spirit who is devoted to Me and who is a
leader (janata-naya) among the Community of Devotees. He shall judge over the matter according to
My Law and his word shall be faithfully obeyed as My Divine Command.
50. Let those who have transgressed My Law
repent and atone by fasting, praying, making donations and turning their
heart to Me. O you who are followers
of Truth! think not that I am a vengeful God.
For it is not I Who punish the sinner but Sin itself, by My Leave,
does so. As a disobedient child who
leaves the parents' house or a beast that leaves the safety of its fold,
being without shelter or protection, falls pray to starvation, wild beasts
and death, so a man who wilfully leaves My Abode of Unity, goes to the Abode
of Separation wherein conflict, disease and death hold sway.
51. Thus the sinner by breaking the Holy Bond
of Unity with Me and entering into the Abode of Sin offers his Soul up to the
God of Sin. But he who sins not, who
acts not in dis-Unity with Me, who ever abides in My Abode of Unity, is never
harmed by Sin. Furthermore, know that
whensoever a Soul strays from the Path, I Myself send him a warning
first. By mending his ways he can
avert the punishment he dreads. Do you
therefore look out for My Signs (Lakshana).
Do not ignore them. Be on your
guard. For he who heeds not My signs,
shall go to sorrow.
52. Verily, I, the Most Compassionate, the
Merciful, the True Friend of all creatures, make My Will known through the
words of men of God and through secret signs of warning, visions and
dreams. For it is not for Me to speak
the words of men but for men to learn and obey My Divine Command. Therefore, follow those who teach My Word,
for this shall be the test of your faith and upon this shall rest the
judgement of your life on Earth.
53. Let no man harm another but live in peace
with men and other creatures. He who
lives in caves, in the desert, or under trees, shall be kind to beast and
plant as to his own brothers. For, in
times of need these shall be his guiding lamp in things of the mountain, of
the desert, and of the forest.
Likewise, they who are wedded to one another according to the holy
rites or who dwell in a great community of devotees, shall be kind to one
another in thought, speech and deed.
54. Let no man oppress another nor deprive him
of what is rightfully his. But he who
is learned in the things of the Spirit shall be a guide and a lamp unto the
others in things of the Spirit. And he
who is learned in the things of the World shall be a guide and a lamp unto
others in things of the World. But he
who is learned in both things of the Spirit and things of the World is truly
a man of great wisdom. He shall be a
guide to all and a great leader of men (manu-naya). He shall be a World Ruler (Loka-Raja)
mighty and wise.
55. Verily, as the Sun is the first amongst all
things that shine, and the Evening Star the first amongst the Stars, so he
who is great of Wisdom shall be the first among men and lead them upon the
Path. He shall be followed by all even
as the Moon follows the Sun across the Sky and a devoted wife follows her
man. For without the wise one's light
of wisdom, man kind will remain in the dark and know not the Path trodden by
the wise in life. Verily and without
doubt, the wise uphold the Earth with their Insight just as a Wise King
upholds the land with his righteous rule.
56. As the Planets orbit the Sun, as swans nest
upon a lake and honey-bees swarm round a lotus blossom, so all men and women
of the realm take refuge with a Righteous King for protection, help and
counsel. The welfare of all depends upon
such an holy one who rules his kingdom according to My Command. O you who are the best among the wise! know
that without a Holy King a country is like a family without a father, like a
herd of cows without a leading bull, like an army without a commander and
like a ship without a rudder. Therefore,
let the people choose a good King.
57. The King shall be enthroned by the Assembly
of Holy Sages in accord with My Command.
He shall be of handsome and auspicious features, strong, able and free
from any defects in body and in mind.
His foremost duty shall be to establish Righteousness on Earth. He shall be a follower of Truth. He shall have no dealings with the people
of Untruth. Ever remembering that I am
the True Sovereign he shall be a tireless Defender of My Law.
58. The King shall favour
peace above war. He shall not start a
war without just cause. But if
assailed by the enemy, he shall be fearless in defending himself and his
realm. He shall be skilled in the use
of the thirty-six kinds of weapons and in tactics of war. He shall enter the battlefield like
an elephant entering a lotus pond. He
shall be brave in battle, magnanimous in victory and unbowed in defeat.
59. The
King shall maintain good relations with neighbouring kings and protect all
allied kings and their people. He
shall be like a father and an elder brother unto his subjects. He shall rule with courage, humility and
wisdom. He shall apportion punishment
and reward after befittingly enquiring into the matter. He shall always be well-informed in regard
to the character, behaviour and intentions of his subjects. He shall be aware that excessive generosity
can corrupt and too much censure can give rise to resentment.
60. The King shall be fair and kind to his
Queen, wives and female attendants. He
shall be courteous and just to ministers and menservants alike. He shall be devoted to the protection and
welfare of all his subjects. He shall
work for the prosperity of his people, his family and his own person through
righteous means. He shall surround himself
with trustworthy informers and advisers.
He shall himself mingle among the people in disguise in the search for
truth.
61. The King shall be moderate in eating,
physical exercise and sexual enjoyment.
He shall be ever watchful and awake even in sleep. He shall practise self-control and abstain
from unnecessary thoughts, words and deeds.
He shall not divulge secrets of state.
He shall be a speaker of truth in a gentle and clear voice. He shall be a dedicated follower of Shiva,
an accomplished practiser of Yoga and a master of the Eight Yogic Powers
(Ashtasiddhi).
62. The King shall receive in payment for his
service to the nation neither more nor less than the sixth part of the land's
produce. He shall build holy temples,
contemplation halls and schools as well as water tanks, wells, parks and
shelters, sanctuaries for the poor and the oppressed and abodes of healing
for those of ill health. He shall
encourage Spiritual study and debate and take part therein so often as his
royal duties permit. Self-sacrifice
for the good of the people shall be regarded by him as the highest goal. He shall give his daughters in marriage to
the best among men and procure virtuous wives for his sons. At the end of his reign on Earth the King
shall entrust his kingship unto his first-born son or some other suitable
successor. For thus I have declared, A
man's land may be divided but a Kingdom shall ever abide as one.
63. These, O you who are followers of Unity
with the Supreme! shall be known as the thirty-six excellent qualities of a
Great King. Let all nations on Earth
unite under such a King for he is a Divine Ruler indeed. He shall be revered by all as a God and
obeyed as an Incarnation of My Supreme Self.
Having illumined the Earth with his hallowed presence, upon departure
from this World he shall join the Holy Immortals in Heaven. Verily, such a King is
a blessing to
all in this
life and the
next. Therefore, let a shrine
be erected upon his tomb and his virtues be proclaimed to the World for the
good of all.
64. As a King is just, generous and kind, so My
devotees shall be kind to all creatures.
Let them be kind even to the enemy in battle. Let them not slay one who flees the battlefield
with dishevelled hair or apparel, nor one who is unarmed and defenceless, nor
one who is injured and begs for mercy.
Let no man forsake his father, nor his mother, nor his wife, nor yet
his daughter or son unless they be found guilty of a great sin. He who does otherwise is a great sinner
himself. Let every man give unto his
parents the love and respect that he owes them. Let him be generous in returning the food
and the care he received of them. For
he who takes and fails to give is never a righteous man but only a
thief. Let no man harden his heart
against one who is in need of help.
For good fortune comes now to one, now to another, turning this way
and that way, ever changing like the flames of fire in the wind. One who this day abounds in riches, may
to-morrow possess naught but a beggar's bowl.
Therefore, let My devotees give with ample generosity and sympathy to
one who lacks. Let gifts be given to
the poor, the weak and the afflicted, with fair words.
65. My devotees shall keep themselves clean.
They shall walk upright, with a pure heart and kindly mien. They shall cover
or bare their physical frame as befits the occasion, and wear apparel that is
pure, pleasing to the body and pleasant to behold. Their garments shall not conceal their
faces, nor their feet or hands. They
shall greet each other courteously with the threefold salutation. They shall eat and cause others to eat food
that is lawful, wholesome, and pleasing to the taste. But the best food shall be offered to the
King, a Priest, a Holy Man and a Guest.
A guest shall be looked upon as a God and all his needs shall be duly
attended to by the host. Likewise, the
guest shall obey the laws of the house with gratitude and respect and repay
the hospitality received according to his means. Guests, small children,
pregnant women, the elders and those that are ill shall be fed first. Honour shall ever be shown to those of many
years: they shall be greeted with palms joined together; they shall be bowed
down to, offered a seat and all their requests shall be attended to by the
younger. Verily their feet shall be
clasped in adoration and their wise words shall be paid heed. 66.
Furthermore, know that love and kindness are manifestations of the Holy Unity
of Souls. Therefore let My devotees
show loving kindness to one another.
For he who loves another loves Me, the One God and the True Self of
all. Love is a feeling of immeasurable
Joy that arises from the awareness of Unity with the loved one. It is sweet
in the beginning, in the middle and also in the end. If it tastes bitter, it is not ripe. Verily, Love is the highest mark of
Unity. It is the most beautiful
expression of Truth and the sweetest fruit of Yoga. Happiness is a house built upon Love and
Love is the Power that holds things together. By that Power two Trees blossom
together in Spring; by that Power two Eagles sail towards the Sun; and two
Souls, like two Clouds, blend into one.
67. Gentleness is an expression of Love. Let no
man utter harsh words against another.
As a wise man craves not a bitter fruit when a sweet fruit is at hand,
so My devotee shall not speak unkind words when kind ones will likewise
convey the truth. Humility is the
antidote to vanity. A tree laden with
fruit bends low but a barren one holds its branches high. Greatness is at once seen in a humble
man. Therefore know that humility is a
sign of greatness. Thus seeing God in
each other, helping and edifying one another, My devotees shall be whole,
happy and strong. They shall be a Light
unto the World in this life and the next and their Community shall prosper
and grow. Verily, they who abide by My
Law shall find guidance and protection in the Light of Unity which is the
well-spring of all life. They shall
not stumble in the dark nor fall into the ditch of discord. But having drawn strength from that Light
and having grown in radiance and might, they shall themselves be a Lamp unto
the World. This is My Divine Command.
68. O noble ones! let every man live his life
according to his Spiritual attainment.
Let no man waste his life with idle preoccupations. For life is precious: I gave it to man that
he may put it to good use. At the end
of this life every man shall be called to account for his deeds on Earth,
each according to his merits and sins.
Ordinary men live sixty years.
Those who are advanced upon the Path live one hundred and twenty
years. Enlightened Yogis live three hundred and sixty years on Earth or more
if they desire. But howsoever long one
lives, life seems always short: it is over before long, even as a dream ends
when the Sun rises at dawn.
69. Therefore let the thinking man make good
use of his life. In the first portion
thereof, up to twenty years, let him apply himself to the study of all that
is needful to know for the living of a righteous life. In the second part of his life, up to the
age of forty, let him become a good householder, a husband and a father. But in the third part of his life, up to
the age of sixty and beyond, let him devote himself to the search for Truth.
70. Having acquired from a good teacher the
knowledge that is needful for a virtuous life, let the young man obtain for
himself a bride. Let him choose a
maiden endowed with auspicious marks; who has handsome features, a pleasant
voice and a graceful gait; who has a well-boding name, a virtuous character
and is a devout follower of My Law.
With such a wife an upright man will bring light into the World and
establish Heaven on Earth. As the Moon
grows for fifteen days and then is round and full, so manhood is attained in
the sixteenth year and so is womanhood.
Thereafter it shall be lawful for man and woman to wed but not
afore. But if a maiden be with child
and wished to marry the father, let her join herself to him and let them be
accounted husband and wife. I am
Compassionate and Just and so shall be My devotees. Every man shall find a soulmate according
to My Will and to his Karma. But they
that cannot marry shall set their heart on Me and live according to the Holy
Dharma. This is My Eternal Law.
71. Nine kinds of marriage shall be known to my
devotee: three lawful and six unlawful.
The lawful ones are the following three. Firstly, that wherein a daughter, having
been decked with costly garments, jewellery and gifts is given by her father
unto a virtuous man of his own choice, but never to one of evil character,
nor to one who is not a follower of My Law.
Secondly, that wherein the bridegroom, having chosen a bride, of his
own will gives as much wealth to her parents, her kinsfolk and to herself as
he can afford. And thirdly, that
wherein a maiden and her sweetheart meet in secret out of mutual desire, in
which case they shall reveal their intention to the girl's parents, the
village elders or the King within a year.
These three shall be known as lawful to all my devotees. But amongst these three, that union which
springs from love is the most pleasing to Me.
72. Of the forbidden kinds, the first three are
those done by stealth, deception or force.
They who take or give a person in marriage by any of these three
means, are committing a great sin for which they shall be severely punished
by the King. Nor shall a bride be
given to a man after being promised to another. Nor a bride or bridegroom substituted with
another (after being shown to the suitor).
Nor yet shall a follower of Dharma wed one who follows laws other than
Mine. He who intends to marry an
unbeliever should consider that love for the whole of Mankind is greater than
love for a single man and that Love of My Truth is the greatest of all. Thinking thus, he shall be preserved from
temptation and shall not commit a sin.
But if the would-be spouse embrace My Law, let the two be wedded and
live together in peace.
73. Listen you now to the most excellent rite
whereby a devoted couple becomes husband and wife. Let the bride and the groom kindle a fire
and cast some incense into it. Then
with their mind addressed to Me, let them chant the following prayer: O Lord
of Immeasurable Glory! from Delusion lead us unto Truth; from Darkness lead
us unto Light; from Death lead us unto Eternal Life. They shall then pledge allegiance to each
other and swear that they will abide in unity as one. Having done this, let
the groom take
the bride's hand and step three
times round the
fire according to
the course of
the Sun (that
is, from East
to South and
so forth) and
with that, the
holy wedding-rite shall
be accomplished. Thereafter they shall be accounted husband
and wife.
74. The priest, the parents and the guests
shall be the earthly witness. But the
fire shall be the witness divine. For
I Myself reside in all things that shine.
Hence the fire shall be a token of My Supreme Light. But if no fire be obtainable, let a lamp be
kindled or even some incense be burnt.
If that too be not at hand, let the wedding take place by a tree, a
lake or a running stream and let their union be witnessed by the Sun, the
Moon or the North Star. For I reside
in all things that shine. I am the
All-Seeing, the All-Wise.
75. O foremost among the righteous! man and
woman were made for the establishment of My Law on Earth and for the good of
each other. They are the earthly
likeness of the First Beings Divine and the twofold Manifestation of the
One. Therefore, they shall know each
other to be Divine, honour each other, elevate each other and work together
for the welfare of all. Moreover, know
that when the Water of Heaven is joined to the Fire of Earth then the
excellent fruit of Unity is conceived whereby Spirit spreads forth into the
World.
76. Verily and without doubt, the Union of man
and woman is like unto that of Heaven and Earth. It has been rightly said by those who are
wise, That which is Above is like as that which is below and that which is
below is like as That which is Above.
For in the Abode of Shiva, Heaven and Earth, Soul and Matter, Male and
Female, are forever One. Therefore,
down on Earth, man and woman shall unite that Spirit may grow in Wisdom and
Might. For Unity is the Power whereby
Spirit comes alive but Disunity is that by which it dies.
77. I created man for woman and woman for
man. A married couple is not two but
one. The purpose of marriage is to
make what was separated into one.
Those who are joined in the marriage of Shiva are one Spirit, even as
I Myself am One. Therefore let them
keep that unity of Spirit and fall not into the Abode of Discord. Let harmony and friendship prevail in a
married couple. For the couple who is
happy, healthy and virtuous will have offspring endowed with the same
qualities. Likewise, they that are
unhappy, devoid of good health and given to sin will bear offspring like
themselves. Let man and woman ever
avoid unrighteous deeds. Let them ever
strive to do works that are agreeable and beneficial to each other and to the
Community of the Righteous (Dharma Sangham), that My Law may prevail on
Earth.
78. Man and woman were made to enjoy unity with
each other in body, mind and Soul. For
the bliss of Unity is the Soul's true sustenance. Unity is of three kinds, of body, of mind
and of Soul. In those who are attached
to the things of the World, Unity is incomplete and imperfect for it is in
body only. In those who have left the
blindness of ignorance behind and are about to enter upon the Path of Spirit,
it is mixed, for it is both in body and in mind. But in those who are well-established on
the Road to Perfection, it is perfect and complete, being of the Soul. They who attain Unity of Soul are the
highest among the human race. They
alone are worthy to enter through Heaven's Gates. The others must stay outside.
79.
Know that a wife is a husband's most cherished possession. He shall protect, nourish and cultivate her
even as a farmer cultivates the Earth.
As a farmer at sowing-time sows seed in his field so the husband shall
sow his seed in his wife's womb and make her fertile like the fruit-bearing
land. As oil or some other substance
cast as an offering into the sacred fire goes up to the Sun wherefrom comes
rain and thence food upon which living creatures subsist, even thus from the
seed offered unto the fire in the womb, there springs a fruit (the child)
which is the support of Mankind.
80. Let the man who desires to have a fruitful
marriage lie down with his wife on an auspicious day which shall be neither
during her monthly courses, nor fall upon a New-Moon or Full-Moon day, for
these are holy. But let them enjoy
conjugal union on the sixteenth day from the beginning of her courses or when
the First Crescent is seen in the Sky, or on the first day of each
fortnight. A married couple shall ever
endeavour to procreate. For thus I
have declared, Like as the thousand-rayed Sun who is the Offspring of Heaven
and Earth (i.e., Spirit and Matter), the fruit of Union between woman and man
is a new-born Star that gladdens the World.
It is every man's duty to bring Light into the World, each one
according to his means.
81. Let man and woman ever abide as one. From Unity spring all things that are right
and good but from Discord comes only what is evil and wrong. Let righteous men ever protect their
womenfolk. Let the father protect the
daughter and the brother protect the sister.
Let the husband protect the wife and the son protect the mother. Let all men protect the Queen. Let a man not lust after the wife of
another nor meet women (other than his wife) in secret. He who has sworn an oath of loyalty and is
unfaithful to his word commits a sin.
82. Likewise, let women ever be loyal to their
menfolk. Let the daughter be loyal to
the father and the sister to the brother.
Let the wife be loyal to the husband and the mother to the son. Let all women be loyal to the King. The women who through unrighteous conduct
put themselves and their men to shame are little better than wild
beasts. But if they be loyal, virtuous
and endowed with knowledge of the Spirit, they bring honour to all. From knowledge springs virtue and from
virtue springs happiness lasting and true.
Virtuous women bring happiness to all.
They are like radiant Goddesses and the Jewels of Mankind. Even the Sun, the Moon and the Stars bow
down before them in adoration.
83. But if they ask you, My Lord, which of the
two shall have dominion over the other, the husband or the wife? answer in
this way: the male being bodily stronger, he is a better worker and a better
fighter; he provides for and protects the female. Verily, in this Age of Darkness, there will
be many a war. When evil-doers invade
the land seeking to injure and destroy her people, shall infants and
womenfolk protect the men? Perish the
thought! Therefore, it were better for
woman to follow the man. It were wrong
for the weaker to rule over the stronger.
Thus it has been said: The country where the stronger is led by the
weaker is quickly attacked and easily defeated.
84. But whosoever of the two is the wiser and
the better leader, the same shall assume leadership in their daily
chores. And the leader shall always
listen to the wisdom of the other in those things wherein he is less
wise. Verily, the couple that ever
wrangle with each other for authority shall better part. For they are like two oxen that draw a cart
in opposite quarters. Their union
yields more harm than good and their works will come to naught. If a couple cannot live in peace as one,
let them each go his own way rather than bring ill fate upon themselves and
their children through much quarrelling and fighting. Children shall be protected from harm like
young animals and plants and not be made to suffer for their parents'
sins. Nor should any parent suffer for
the child. But the man who raises a
child in ways that are contrary to Dharma shall accrue much evil Karma. A just punishment shall be his fate both in
this life and in the next.
85. Men will say that the child belongs to the
father and womenfolk will say that he belongs to the mother. But it is only their proud and stubborn
heart who makes them speak so. The
father cannot claim that the child belongs to him, for he neither bears the
child in his womb nor gives he birth to him.
And the mother cannot claim that the child is hers alone, for she
willingly gave herself to the man in marriage, in full knowledge that a child
that springs from their union will belong to both. The truth is that the child belongs to both
parents in equal measure, being born by means of the bodily fluids of the two
who are one through the bond of marriage.
Therefore, let it be known that man, woman and child are one Spirit
even as I Myself am One. Let there
ever be unity between parents and child.
86. If a child is begotten upon his wife by a
man who has several wives, he shall belong equally to all. But if one of the parents either before or
after the birth waives his rights to the child by a special agreement, then
the child shall belong to the other parent alone. If a man being without children appoints
his wife to bear a son by another man, the child thus conceived shall belong
to the adoptive father and his wife, and not to the blood father. For the produce of the seed sown on
another's field belongs to the owner of the field and not to the sower. The merit or sin that springs from a deed
done by the command of the King falls upon the King and not upon him who
obeyed the King's command. And the
merit resulting from a priest's chanting prayers on behalf of another man,
goes alone to the man who appointed him.
87. The same shall apply to the woman whose husband
passes away without sons and who for the sake of preserving the husband's
line bears a child by another man. And
if both parents are appointed by a childless man to bear a son on his behalf
then the child shall belong to the man who appointed them. Likewise, a child wilfully abandoned by his
parents shall belong to those who foster him.
The child that springs from the union of a man with an unwilling woman
shall belong to the mother alone if she desires to keep him. But it were better for her not to bring him
into the World. For the fruit of such
an union is a poisoned fruit that spreads evil upon Earth for seven
generations and more. Let there be no
doubt about this.
88. Let husband and wife be ever true to each
other. The husband or wife who is
unfaithful to the other shall atone for his or her transgression by fasting
for three days, giving unto the other gifts of livestock, jewellery or other
valuables, and vowing not to transgress again. If the vow is broken once, the fast and the
amount of gifts shall be doubled. But
if the vow be broken twice, the bond of marriage shall be regarded as severed
and the couple shall either marry again after one year or go separate ways. But it were better for them to make up and
stay faithful to each other. Such ones
are true followers of Unity and an example unto all.
89. If a man wishes to divorce his wife, he
shall not keep the dowry, nor demand (the return of) the gifts he has given
her, nor shall he keep what she has given him. The same shall apply to the woman who seeks
to divorce her husband and to those that are not married but live together
(as if married). But he who divorces
his wife shall provide for her and their child until such time as they find
other means of sustenance except when the wife is able to support
herself. If the man becomes unable at
any time to provide for himself, his wife or their children, their needs
shall be met by their kinsfolk, neighbours, the village elders or the King.
90. If a couple become divided, the child shall
go to that parent who is better able to provide for him. If neither is found to be able, he shall go
to the next of kin, the village elders or the King or to such person or
persons as be appointed by these. But
if the child be born to parents of whom one is a follower of My Law and the
other not, then he shall go to the first-named parent without fail. And if that parent though being a follower
of My Law be unable to provide for the child, then he shall be fostered by
the Community of Devotees. Let all
disputes be settled amicably for quarrelling brings harm to an innocent child
and harming the innocent is a great sin.
This is My Eternal Law.
91. O noble ones! let the King be a righteous
leader and a good father unto the followers of My Law. He shall look after those who cannot find
shelter elsewhere such as orphans, the destitute, the aged, widows, the
feeble-minded, the afflicted, the persecuted and the oppressed. He shall ever be a good example and a
source of guidance and support to all.
Let the King appoint eight trustworthy ministers who shall assist him
in the governing of the land.
92. Each village shall be ruled by a council of
five elders chosen by the villagers themselves. The King shall appoint a headman over each
village and a band of warriors to protect the righteous. Other headmen shall be appointed over
groups of ten, twenty, sixty, one hundred and twenty villages and one or more
towns as the case may be. The village
elders shall inform the headman of any wrongdoings done in their village, the
headman of one village shall inform the headman of ten, and the higher
headmen in due order shall inform the King.
The King shall then act for the protection of the Kingdom and for the
upholding of the Law. In this way Dharma
shall prevail.
93. Grain, wood, cloth, livestock, fuel and
other such things as the villagers owe to the King shall be obtained by the
headman of each village and duly brought to the King. The King in return shall lead and protect
the people and be ever vigilant as to their welfare and prosperity.
94. Let the wise King rule the country
according to the Four Means of Peaceful Persuasion, Enticement, Sowing
Dissension and Punishment. Firstly, he
shall persuade his opponents by peaceful means such as reasoned
argumentation, the invocation of My Eternal Law, and so forth. Secondly, if he be unable to achieve the
desired end, let him bestow gifts of land, gold, or give his offspring in
marriage to those powerful rulers with whom he wishes to make peace for the
good of the people. Thirdly, if that
were to be in vain, let him sow dissension among his foes that they may be
divided by discord and become easier to conquer. And fourthly, if that also fail, let him
impose his will by means of force. Let
him diligently apply these four in his dealings with powerful men, be they
strangers or of his own race, ever seeking to do good for his people.
95. But for restraining the evil-doers in his
own land let him employ the Six Means known to the Wise, each according to
the crime and the perpetrator of the crime: verbal admonition, imposition of
a fine, inflicting corporal punishment, binding in fetters (i.e.,
imprisonment or enslavement), banishing and death. Of these, the first five shall be permitted
to village elders and headmen alike.
But the sixth shall only be given by the King and by his men in
accordance with his command. For the
taking of another's life is lawful for a man beside the King only in
self-defence, in protecting the life of the innocent, and in defending his
own property. He who unprovoked
assails another or enters another man's house with the intention of
committing a crime shall himself be struck down with a club.
96. Thus the King, ever remembering that I am
the True Sovereign, shall keep his people on the Road of Righteousness
according to My Law. He shall restrain
the thieves, the robbers, the murderers, the oppressors of the upright, and
the godless who seek to corrupt the righteous. The King who restrains not the sinners shall
take their sins upon himself.
Therefore let him ever exert himself to punish the wrongdoers and
reward the virtuous. Evil shall be
banished by him like weeds and Righteousness cultivated like flowers and
fruit-bearing trees. Verily, towards
such a King the hearts of the people will turn like rivers towards the Sea.
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