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30
UTTARADHYAYANA.
difficult for him to attain an upward course1 for a long time to come. (18)
Considering what is at stake, one should weigh (the chances of) the sinner and of the virtuous man (in one's mind).
He who brings back his capital, is (to be compared to) one who is born again as a man. (19)
Those men who through the exercise of various virtues 2 become pious householders, will be born again as men; for all beings will reap the fruit of their actions. (20)
But he who increases his capital, is (to be compared to) one who practises eminent virtues; the virtuous, excellent man cheerfully attains the state of gods3. (21)
When one thus knows that a (virtuous) monk or householder will be gladdened (by his gain), how, then, should a man, whilst he is losing (his chance), not be conscious of his losing it? (22)
As a drop of water at the top of a blade of Kusagrass dwindles down to naught when compared with the ocean, so do human pleasures when compared with divine pleasures. (23)
The pleasures in this very limited life of men are like (the water at) the top of a blade of Kusa-grass; for the sake of what will a man not care to gain and
1 I. e. birth as a man or a god.
2 Sikshâ. The commentator quotes the following passage in Prâkrit: Souls gain human birth through four causes: (1) a kind disposition (prakritibhadratâ), (2) love of discipline (prakritivinîtatâ), (3) compassion (sânukrosanatâ), and (4) want of envy (amatsaritâ).
3 For a higher rank than that of a god, e. g. that of a Kêvalin, cannot, in the present state of the world, be attained.
