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And
painful Pleasure springed from the bond Between the senses and the
sense-world. Sweet As Amrit is its first taste, but its
last Bitter as poison. 'Tis of Rajas, Prince! And foul and
"dark" the Pleasure is which springs From sloth and sin
and foolishness; at first And at the last, and all the way of life
The soul bewildering. 'Tis of Tamas, Prince!
For nothing lives on earth, nor 'midst the gods In utmost heaven,
but hath its being bound With these three Qualities, by Nature
framed.
The work of Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas,
And Sudras, O thou Slayer of thy Foes! Is fixed by reason of the
Qualities Planted in each: A Brahman's virtues, Prince Born of his
nature, are serenity, Self-mastery, religion, purity,
Patience, uprightness, learning, and to know The truth of things
which be.
A Kshatriya's pride, Born of his
nature, lives in valour, fire, Constancy, skilfulness, spirit in
fight, And open-handedness and noble mien, As of a lord of men. A
Vaisya's task, Born with his nature, is to till the ground, Tend
cattle, venture trade. A Sudra's state, Suiting his nature, is to
minister.
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