________________
24
Ahimsa, Samyama, and Tapa. Even the gods bow down
to him whose mind is always centred in religion.”
Then the Sūtra continues with the following classical verses, which are, like the above one, amongst the words to be daily recited by monks :
जहा दुम्मस्स पुप्पेसु भमरो आवियइ रसं । ण य पुप्फ किलामेइ सो अ पीणेइ अप्पयं ।। एमए समणा मुत्ता जे लोए संति साहुणो । विहंगमा व पुप्पेसु दाणभत्तेसणारया ।। वयं च वित्तिं लब्भामो न य कोइ उवहम्मइ । अहागडेसु रीयंते पुप्पेसु भमरा जहा ।। महुगारसमा बुद्धा जे भवंति अणिस्सिया । नाणापिंडरया दंता तेण वुच्चंति साहुणो ।। "As the bee drinks honey from the blossoms of a tree and gets seated, without causing pain to the blossom,” "Just so are those monks, who have given up all attachment and who are truly the “good ones” (original: "Sādhu”, i.e. also “monks') in the world. As the bees are with the blossoms, so are they gratified with begging their alms.” “Their device is “Let us find something to live on, without any creature being harmed”. This is why they go in quest of what they find ready, as the bee does on the blossoms". "Wise are those who act like the bees, and who are free from all bonds of dependence. Pleased they are with any food they obtain, and ever self-controlled. This is why they are called “Sādhus” (i.e. 'the good
ones" and "monks").
The ideal of what human life can be like, and ought to be like, in the light of all these conceptions, is illustrated by the figure of the Jina, or Arhat, the supposed initiator of a new period of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org