I just finished reading a new translation of the Bhagavad-Gita, which I last read, in a different translation, back in my ultra-hippie days. For those unfamiliar with the story line, it takes place on a battlefield. The two main characters are Arjuna, a warrior, and Krishna, his charioteer, who, it turns out, is actually an avatar of Vishnu. Arjuna gets cold feet about fighting, primarily because it appears the war is of the civil variety, and he is likely to be killing his close relatives. Krishna gives him a religion lesson, reveals himself in all his glory, and explains, basically, why it is okay, even mandatory, for Arjuna to fight, so long as his heart is pure. That last sentence is a gross simplification and distortion, but it’s not my intent to expound on a religious text.
Krishna calls Arjuna various names at various times, including Partha, which I’m telling you only because that name appears in the quotes below.
In one chapter, Krishna explains the difference between those born with a divine inheritance(meaning they may surmount the endless cycle of rebirth and reach the Hindu heaven) and those born with the demonic inheritance(meaning they’re nasty people doomed to endless rebirths). By their attributes may you know them, and I thought I’d pass along a few verses describing the demonic type, because they brought to someone to mind. Whoever can guess who I’m referring to gets a lifetime subscription to CTBlue.
Fraudulence, arrogance, narcissism,
Anger, coarseness, ignorance,
Belong to someone, Partha,
Born with a demonic inheritance…
Demonic people don’t know
What to do, what not to do,
Or purity, or proper conduct
No finding any truth in them!…
Trapped and roped by a hundred hopes,
Devout in lust and rage,
Intending to enjoy their lusts, they strive
To stockpile wealth illegally”This is how much I profited today,
And this, the chariot I have in mind,
And this, and this as well, is mine,
And more wealth in the future!…
”How rich I am, how well-born!
Who else is like me?
I’ll sacrifice, I’ll donate, I’ll rejoice!”
So they say, by ignorance deluded.…
Self absorbed and stubborn,
Full of wealth and pride and drunkenness,
Their sacrifice, though called a sacrifice
Is mere hypocrisy without the rite rulesThey cling to egotism, force,
Insolence, lust and anger.
The stuff I’ve skipped is equally applicable to the person I’m thinking of, but would require some exegesis I’m not prepared to supply.
So, this particular person, a genius maybe, has, according to Vishnu, undergone an endless cycle of rebirths, each time emerging from a demonic womb, each time as an extremely horrible person. I prefer to stick to my devout atheism, because if Krishna is right, we’ll never get rid of the guy.
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