358 The Ma/mnnastava, or a Hymn to Shiva. [May, 



Lord could attempt the production of the world ? The wicked, regard- 

 less of these considerations, indulge in scepticism concerning thee, O 

 thou supreme of immortals ! 



While the Vedas, the Sankhya philosophy, the Yoga shastra, the 

 system concerning the creature and the creator, the doctrine of the 

 Vaishnavas, &c. involve many conflicting theories and sentiments of 

 which some follow this, some that — and while there are consequently 

 different kinds of men pursuing various paths, straight, as well as 

 crooked, according to the diversity of their opinions — thou art alone 

 ^the one end of all these sects, as the sea is of different rivulets. 



5?rf% ^T?TT^Ff frong*RpioT vmrfft IFi| 



A large bull, a wooden staff, an axe, a tiger or elephant's hide, ashes, 

 snakes, and a skull — these, O thou dispenser of blessings, are thy 

 principal ornaments and furniture. The other gods are indeed tenaci- 

 ous of this and that enjoyment, all which thou mayest call forth by 

 a mere turn of thy eye — but a feverish thirst after such objects 

 cannot disturb a self-contented being. 



^^T fW^f*T r^t 5T ^ ST-T WZ1 WQTm IKII 



One philosopher* says that every thing is eternal ; anothert says 

 that every thing here is perishable; while a thirdj maintains that in 



* Kapila, the founder of the Sankhya philosophy. 



f Buddha, the last pretended incarnation of the Deity, from whom originated the 

 sect which goes by his name. 

 X Goutama the founder of the Nydya philosophy. 



