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Ratnakarandaka-śrāvakācāra
देशयामि समीचीनं धर्मं कर्मनिबर्हणम् । संसारदुःखतः सत्त्वान् यो धरत्युत्तमे सुखे ॥२॥
सामान्यार्थ - मैं कर्मों का विनाश करने वाले उस समीचीन (श्रेष्ठ) धर्म को कहता हूँ जो जीवों को संसार के दु:खों से निकालकर स्वर्ग-मोक्ष आदि के उत्तम सुख में स्थित करता है - पहुँचा देता है।
I shall preach the karma-destroying, excellent course of conduct (dharma) that releases the living beings from worldly sufferings and establishes them in the state of supreme happiness.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The universe is eternal without beginning and end. In this universe the living beings have been enduring misery, in the beginningless cycle of births and deaths. Life is as uncertain as the bubbles that float on water. And riches which beget worldly happiness are evanescent like the clouds and the lightning. The body too is transitory by nature, full of suffering and pain, worthless and unclean.
The objects of pleasure of the senses too are transient like the bubbles. Money has failed to procure happiness whenever it has been put to test. There are many millions of people of money who are unhappy. Can it be status, family, children, fame and the like which are known to have afforded pleasure in the past? Surely not, for what they provide us with is ephemeral and adulterated with suffering as their parting is certain. It can be shown with respect to every worldly object that it cannot be happiness itself. There is no way of escape for the person caught in the meshes of birth, old age, death, disease and sorrow. The wealth acquired with great effort
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