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SAMAYASARA.
19
Commentary, Wrong knowledge is here described as the cause of delusion, and an intellect is (of course from the practical point of view) attributed to the soul.
The point is that " Wrong knowledge," of which instances have been given in the preceding three Gathas, deludes the perceptive faculty of the soul, and it comes to regard matter-substance as “its" which, though apparently " genitive" or " attributive” shows attachment and leads to perversity, which should be avoided. Thus deluded, a person is affected by strong passionate thought-activities and breeds attachment to the body, which is bound to him, and with family, friends, clothes, houses, riches, country and kingdom, which are not bound with him. So deluded by other objects. he desires for their possession and company, and their separation brings unbearable grief to him. For their sake he is ready to perform any of the worst injuries and irreligious acts which no wise man would ever do. His life which can best be utilised in realising true peace, and in soul-advancement is totally ruined. The author has here described this piteous characteristic of an ignorant deluded person.
सव्वण्हुणाणदिहो जीवो उवमोगलक्खणो णिचं । किह सो पुग्गलदव्वी भदो जं भणसि मज्झमिणं ॥ २६ ॥ सर्वज्ञज्ञानदृष्टो जीव उपयोगलक्षणो नित्यं । कथं स पुद्गलद्रव्यीभूतो यद्भणसि ममेदं ॥ २६ ॥
29. That the soul always (possesses) the characteristic of conscious attentiveness, is seen in the knowledge of the All-knowing. How can the soul be the matter, which thou say'st is mine?
Commentary. Remember that the soul, as it is, can never become matter, which is devoid of consciousness; consciousness is the special attribute of the soul. It is therefore quite different from non-soul substances. This body, in which it resides and to which it is strongly attached, is made up of unconscious molecules of dead, lifeless matter. It is only the abode for mundane-soul for a short duration, Made up of material atoms it dissolves; but the soul free, and indissoluble, immaterial and conscious will retain its real existence for evermore. Therefore a truly wise man should never consider the body to be his, or otherwise identify himself with it.
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