388 
[No. 4, 
The Charvaka System of Philosophy. 
Then making the sky flash with sparks as he shook his staff to and fro, 
Yama thus poured forth the waves of his speech, as if his heart was pierced by 
the other’s words. 
“ Stay, stay while I forthwith silence thy lips and throat, 
Wretch as thou art that utterest these hostile words in the midst of our assembly. 
Oh Lokayata, who for thy mere words will give up the other world, 
Established by the Yedas and hundreds of opinions that wear the garb of the 
Yeda? 
When there is a dispute about the true road, between a few and many of equal 
claims to knowledge, 
As thou wouldst act in regard to an earthly journey,—why not thus too as re¬ 
gards another world ? 
Whoso sees the consent of all men to give away their daughters to others,* 
How can that man’s faith but be firm in the reality of another world ? 
If any opinion be true, then those who forsake all opinions must be undone ; 
If a rite fails, it is only the defect of fruit, but positive injury can never come 
from following duty. 
Either from the general consent of mankind, or the fear of guilt to be incurred, 
Some Yaidic principles are obeyed by all,—then, if these, why not all for their 
sake ?” 
Then spake Yaruna, red with wrath, a speech devoid of pity, 
“ Base heretic, why fearest thou not my tremendous noose ? 
There are stones beyond man’s power to make, marked with Yishnu’s incarna¬ 
tions, 
How is it, ye fools, that these do not persuade you to the path of the holy ? 
Indra’s title S'atakratu and the very names of the castes, as born from the thigh, 
&c.+ 
Why do not these confound you with the old traditions of the Yeda? 
How do ye not believe the Yedas when ye see by sense perception 
The dead animating various shapes and imploring a s'raddha at Gaya, &c. ? 
Forsake not the Yedas when ye yourselves behold men bearing witness to their 
truth 
Who have been carried to Yama by some mistake of name and have then re¬ 
turned to their bodies.” 
Then stepping forth from Kali’s host, which stood paralysed by the wrath of the 
gods, 
The varlet thus lifted his voice, raising folded hands to his forehead, 
“ I am not guilty, oh lords of heaven,—I am subject to another’s will, 
I am but the bard of the Kali Yug,J fair-tongued to flatter it.” 
* It would not be done but for the S'ruti’s command. 
f S'atakratu is a common Yaidic and non-Vaidic name of Indra ( e. g. Rig V. 
I. 4, 8.) The mythic origin of the four castes occurs in the Purusha-sukta. 
J In Schlegel’s Ramayana we find Jabali similarly apologising. 
