645:1 Both study of the Vedas (Swádhyáya) and abstraction (Yoga) are to be practised: when a man is weary of one, he may apply to the other. The Yoga, however, limits the practical part to silent prayer. 'Wearied of meditation, let him pray inaudibly: weary of prayer, let him repeat meditation.' 'By the union of prayer and meditation let him behold soul in himself.'
645:2 No such names occur amongst the Maithila kings of the Vishńu Puráńa (see p. 390); but, as there noticed (note 6), the Bhágavata inserts them. Janaka is used as a title. Kritadhwaja, in some of the copies, is read Ritadhwaja.
646:3 The performance of rites as a means of salvation is called ignorance in the Vedas (see p. 642, n. 7). Works are recommended as introductory to the acquirement of knowledge: it is ignorance to consider them as finite.
646:4 Tasya-dhenum. One copy has Homa-dhenu, 'cow of sacrifice;' another, Dharma-dhenu, 'cow of righteousness.' The commentator explains the terms as importing the same thing, a cow yielding milk for holy purposes, or for the butter which is poured in oblations upon the sacrificial fire.
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Hinduism
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