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Mardava and the nature of maya, and their consequences
Yogashastra, Caturtha Prakasha, Sloka 14:
It is not appropriate to be proud even of one's own strength. Even the strong are seen to become weak at the time of old age or the rise of other karmas. Therefore, pride in one's strength is futile. This body, made of seven dhatus, keeps increasing and decreasing, and in old age becomes afflicted with diseases; so who will be proud of the form of such a perishable body? How beautiful was the form of Sanatkumara Chakravarti? But in a short time, the beauty of his form was destroyed. Considering this, who will be the person who will be proud of his form even in a dream? Hearing about the pinnacle of the tapas of Bhagavan Rishabhadeva and Bhagavan Mahavira, who will have pride in their own extremely little tapas? The pride in that tapas, by which the entire cluster of karmas can be destroyed at once, only increases the cluster of karmas. The one who, by practicing the scriptures composed by others, with the effort of his own limited intellect, composes treatises and takes pride in his own omniscience, is actually consuming his own limbs. Bhagavan Ganadhara had the power to compose and recollect the Dvadashangi; knowing this, which wise person will have pride in his own scriptural knowledge? No one will.
Many acharyas speak of pride in wealth and pride in tapas, instead of pride in devotion and pride in intellect. They give this instruction regarding them: A poor person, burdened by the weight of favors, commits bad deeds to obtain the affection of other people; well, how can he be proud of that? The one who, having obtained the affection granted by the grace of others, takes pride in it, drowns in the ocean of sorrow when that affection departs. Seeing the various aspects of the intellect, the methods of its enhancement, its alternatives, and the inequality and subtlety of its infinite modes, the great men of ancient times, who were endowed with intellect infinitely superior to the six-situated, were like lions in comprehending and imparting the meaning of the sutras, creating new compositions, contemplating on the meanings and ascertaining them; knowing this, how can the man of limited intellect of this era take pride in his own intellect?
In this way, the nature of pride and its divisions have been expounded. Now, they teach the instruction of mardava (which is the means of conquering pride).
Sloka 14: Utsarpayan doshashakhah, gunamulanyabho nayan | Unmulaniyo manadus tanmardava-sarit-plavai ||
Meaning: The tree of pride, whose branches are the faults and whose roots are the virtues, should be uprooted with the force of the river of mardava (humility).
Explanation: The proud person's faults are like the spreading branches of the tree of pride, while the virtues are like the roots that go downward. As the tree of pride grows, the cluster of faults increases, and the cluster of virtues decreases. How can such a tree of pride be uprooted? In this regard, it is said that the tree of pride should be uprooted by the swift current of the river of mardava (humility). The more the tree of pride grows, the more the roots of virtues get hidden, and the branches of faults keep increasing, which cannot be uprooted by axes and the like; it can only be uprooted by the swift flow of the river of humility.
The meaning of the internal slokas on the same topic is as follows:
Mardava means softness, gentleness, and the abandonment of arrogance. Arrogance is the natural, inherent nature of pride. In whatever subject - caste, etc. - pride arises, one should take refuge in humility to counter it. One should practice gentleness, humility, and reverence in every situation, and especially show reverence to venerable persons, because the worship of venerable persons purifies one's sins, and the individual becomes free from sins. Bahubali Muni was enveloped by the creepers of sins due to the sway of pride, and when he contemplated humility in his mind, he immediately became free from sins and attained Kevala-jnana. Even the former Chakravarti, renouncing his connection with the world, goes for alms even to the house of an enemy. In reality, abandoning pride and adopting mardava is extremely difficult. Even after initiation, the former Chakravarti immediately pays obeisance to the former poor ascetic.