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The Bhagavad Gita1418
Krishna: “Many have been my births and re-births, O Prince—and
many also have been thine own. But between us lies this difference—I am
conscious of all my lives, but thou lackest remembrance of thine.
“Listen to this great secret. Although I am above birth and rebirth, or
Law, being the Lord of all there is, for all emanateth from me—still do I will
to appear in my own universe, and am therefore born by my Power and
Thought, and Will.
“Knoweth thou this, O Prince, that whenever the world declineth in virtue
and righteousness; and vice and injustice mount the throne—then cometh
I, the Lord, and revisit my world in visible form, and mingleth as a man with
men, and by my influence and teachings do I destroy the evil and injustice,
and reestablish virtue and righteousness. Many times have I thus appeared;
many times hereafter shall I come again.
“He who is able to pierce my disguise, and who knoweth me in my Essence,
when he quitteth his mortal frame, is released from rebirth in worlds, but is
granted the joy of dwelling with Me.
“Many, freeing themselves from anger, hate, fear and attachment to things,
and keeping their minds fixed upon me, have been purified by the Sacred
Flame of Wisdom, and have come to dwell with Me.
“No matter by what path men approach Me, they are made welcome.
For all paths no matter how diverse lead straight to Me. All paths are mine,
notwithstanding by what names they may be called.
“Even they who tread the path of the lower deities and imaginary gods
and who pray to them for success through action—even these, say I, meet
with reward, for they reap the success that comes from earnest application
and industrious action. Through the laws of Mind and Nature, do their gods,
real or imagined, answer them.
“But I am the creator of all mankind in all of its phases and forms. From
me proceed the four castes, with their distinguishing qualities and activities.
Know me as the creator of all these, though in Myself I am changeless and
without qualities.