“Bhishma said, ‘O highly blessed one, when thou who art worshipped by the three worlds hast been gratified with me and when I have obtained a sight of thy exalted self, I regard myself as already crowned with success. But, O thou foremost of virtuous persons, if I have deserved thy favour, I will tell thee my doubts and it behoveth thee to dispel them, O holy one, I have some religious doubts in respect of tirthas. Speak of those to me in detail, I desire to hear thee. O thou that resemblest a celestial himself, what is his merit, O regenerate Rishi, who goeth round the whole earth (visiting shrines). O tell me this with certainty.”Mbh 3.82.2 · Mahabharata · VANA PARVA
Mbh 3.82.2
Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Themes in this passage
DoubtDesireDharmaNatureSpeechWorshipTrust
Doubt in other traditions
The same theme, as Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hellenism address it.
They alone ask leave of thee who believe not in Allah and the Last Day, and whose hearts feel doubt, so in their doubt they waver.Quran 9:45 · Quran · Repentance
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.Matthew 28:17 · Bible · Matthew
If a man is tossed about by doubts, full of strong passions, and yearning only for what is delightful, his thirst will grow more and more, and he will indeed make his fetters strong.Dhp 24.349 · Dhammapada · Thirst
Then thus Minerva:—“Brave Tydides, hear! Not Mars himself, nor aught immortal, fear. Full on the god impel thy foaming horse: Pallas commands, and Pallas lends thee force. Rash, furious, blind, from these to those he flies, And every side of wavering combat tries; Large promise makes, and breaks the promise made: Now gives the Grecians, now the Trojans aid.”[159]Iliad 5.88 · Iliad · 5
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