THE HARMONY OF VIRTUE

166 The Harmony of Virtuewhich show us the secret something in character usually beyond theexpressive power either of speech and action; they are touches oftenerfound in the dramatic artist than the epic, and seldom fall withinVyasa's method. It is the difference between a strong and purposefulartistic synthesis and the beautiful, subtle and involute symmetry ofan organic existence evolved and inevitable rather than shaped andpurposed.His deep preoccupation with the ethical issues of speech andaction is very notable. His very subject is one of practical ethics, theestablishment of a Dharmarajya, an empire of the just, by which ismeant no millennium of the saints, but the practical ideal of governmentwith righteousness, purity and unselfish toil for the commongood as its saving principles. It is true that Valmiki is a more humanelymoral spirit than Vyasa, in as much as ordinary morality ismost effective when steeped in emotion, proceeding from the heartand acting through the heart. Vyasa's ethics like everything else inhim takes a double stand on intellectual scrutiny and acceptance andon personal strength of character; his characters having once adoptedby intellectual choice and in harmony with their temperaments agiven line of conduct, throw the whole heroic force of their natureinto its pursuit. He is therefore pre-eminently a poet of action. Krishnais his authority in all matters, religious and ethical, and it is noticeablethat Krishna lays far more stress on action and far less on quiescencethan any other Hindu philosopher. Quiescence in God is withhim as with others the ultimate goal of existence, but he insists thatthat quiescence must be reached through action and, so far as thislife is concerned, must exist in action; quiescence of the soul fromdesires there must be but there should not be and cannot be quiescenceof the Prakriti from action.n kmR,amnar>.aÞWZkMy| puäzo_Xnute -s c s'Nysnadev isi×' smi/gC^it --n ih kiXcT=,mip jatu itZ#TykmR²t( -kayRte övx" kmR svR" p[²itjWgR*,W" --inyt' k¦ä kmR Tv' kmR Jyayo ökmR," -xrIrya]aip c te n p[is×)edkmR," -- 11Bhagavadgita, III. 4,5,8.na karmaÍÀmanÀrabhbhÀnnaiØkarmyaÌ puruØo'Ùnutesa ca saÌnyasanÀdeva siddhiÌ samadhigacchatina hi kaÙcitkØaÍamapi jÀtu tiØÒhatyakarmakÐtkÀryate hyavaÙaÕ karma sarvaÕ prakÐtijairgÐÍaiÕniyataÌ kuru karma tvaÌ karma jyÀyo hyakarmaÍaÕÙarÈrayÀtrÀpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaÍaÕ