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Carvaka Sanskrit Poem    

 

 

Quote.

    Fire is hot, water cold,
    refreshingly cool is the breeze of morning;
    By whom came this variety
    They were born of their own nature.

 

    This also has been said by Brhaspati:
    There is no heaven, no final liberation,
    nor any soul in another world,
    Nor do the actions of the four castes,
    orders, or priesthoods produce any real effect.

 

    If a beast slain as an offering to the dead
    will itself go to heaven,
    why does the sacrificer not straightway offer his father

 

    If offerings to the dead produce gratification
    to those who have reached the land of the dead,
    why the need to set out provisions
    for travelers starting on this journey
    If our offering sacrifices here gratify beings in heaven,
    why not make food offerings down below
    to gratify those standing on housetops

 

    While life remains, let a man live happily,
    let him feed on butter though he runs in debt;
    When once the body becomes ashes,
    how can it ever return again

 

    If he who departs from the body goes to another world,
    why does he not come back again,
    restless for love of his kinfolk
    It is only as a means of livelihood
    that brahmins have established here
    abundant ceremonies for the dead -
    there is no other fruit anywhere.

 

    Hence for kindness to the mass of living beings
    we must fly for refuge in the doctrine of Carvaka.

End Quote.

 

Source: Daylight Atheism

Version: 
Latest 3 messages about this page (16 total) - view full discussion
Jun 8 2008 by Dag Yo
Nice poem. I think a quick little date on it might be nice though,
but I can't edit :/
Jun 8 2008 by Keith MacNevins
Justice.
Jun 8 2008 by Keith MacNevins
A.I. is getting control. A.I. is against you.
13 more messages »
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