Hindu Literature: Or, The Ancient Books of IndiaS.C. Griggs, 1890 - 410 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
Agni Arjuna arms arrows Ayodhya beautiful Bhagavad-gītā Bharata Bhishma birds body born Brahman brother ceremonies chariot chieftains claimed command dark Dasaratha daughter death deities demon devoted divine doctrine Draupadi Drona Duryodhana earth elephants Epics exile eyes faithful father feet fire flowers forest gods golden hair hand Hanuman head heart heaven Hindu horses hundred husband hymns India Indra Janaka jewels Kaikeyi Kauravas Kausalya king Krishna Lakshmana light live lord Maha-bharata Maha-raja Manu Max Müller monkeys moon morning mother mountain multitude night oblations palace Pandavas praise priests prince princess Prof Puranas raja Rakshasas Rama Rāmāyaṇa Ravana represented Rig-veda rites royal sacred sacrifice sage Sanskrit scholars serpent Sir Monier Williams Sītā Siva soma soul Sugrīva Sumantra terrible thee thou thousand throne tion trans trees Upanishads Varuna Veda Vedic Vishnu warriors wife wilderness woman worship Yama Yudhi-shthira
Popular passages
Page 55 - And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse ; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns ; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Page 20 - The mighty Varuna, who rules above, looks down Upon these worlds, his kingdom, as if close at hand. When men imagine they do aught by stealth, he knows it. No one can stand, or walk, or softly glide along, Or hide in dark recess, or lurk in secret cell, But Varuna detects him, and his movements spies. Two persons may devise some plot, together sitting, And think themselves alone; but he, the king, is there — A third— and sees it all.
Page 154 - By thy own soul ! by those who gave thee breath ! By all the sacred prevalence of prayer ; Ah, leave me not for Grecian dogs to tear ! The common rites of sepulture bestow, To soothe a father's and a mother's woe; 430 Let their large gifts procure an urn at least, And Hector's ashes in his country rest.
Page 83 - The embodied spirit has a thousand heads, A thousand eyes, a thousand feet, around On every side enveloping the earth, Yet filling space no larger than a span. He is himself this very universe; He is whatever is, has been, and shall be; He is the lord of immortality.
Page 38 - Hail, Ushas, daughter of the sky, Who, borne upon thy shining car By ruddy steeds from realms afar, And ever lightening drawest nigh ; — " Thou sweetly smilest, goddess fair, Disclosing all thy youthful grace, Thy bosom bright, thy radiant face, And lustre of thy golden hair...
Page 165 - One only way I find To slay this fiend of evil mind. He prayed me once his life to guard From demon, God, and heavenly bard, And spirits of the earth and air, And I consenting heard his prayer. But the proud giant in his scorn Recked not of man of woman born. None else may take his life away, But only man the fiend may slay.
Page 343 - Better to do the duty of one's caste ' , Though bad and ill-performed and fraught with evil, Than undertake the business of another, However good it be. For better far Abandon life at once than not fulfil One's own appointed work ; another's duty Brings danger to the man who meddles with it. Perfection is alone attained by him Who swerves not from the business of his caste.
Page 90 - A wife is half the man, his truest friend; A loving wife is a perpetual spring Of virtue, pleasure, wealth; a faithful wife Is his best aid in seeking heavenly bliss; A sweetly-speaking wife is a companion In solitude, a father in advice, A mother in all seasons of distress, A rest in passing through life's wilderness.
Page 110 - There is one only Being who exists Unmoved, yet moving swifter than the mind ; Who far outstrips the senses, though as gods They strive to reach him ; who himself at rest Transcends the fleetest flight of other beings ; Who, like the air, supports all vital action. He moves, yet moves not; he...
Page 79 - Then, as he washed his hands, a little fish Appeared, and spoke in human accents thus : ' Take care of me, and I will be thy saviour.' ' From what wilt thou preserve me ? ' Manu asked. The fish replied, ' A flood will sweep away All creatures ; I will rescue thee from that.' ' But how shall I preserve thee ?' Manu said. The fish rejoined, ' So long as we are small, We are in constant danger of destruction, For fish eat fish ; so keep me in a jar. When I outgrow the jar, then dig a trench, And place...