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Sāra, A-sāra, Sam-sāra
Minoru Hara
These three words do not appear in consecutive order with prefixes a- and sam- as indicated above in the title, but appear usually in the order asāre saṁsāre sāra. The phrase is apparently intended to show the poetical device of alliteration (anuprāsa).
The phrase without the last word sāra, that is asāra saṁsāra, means "the current of transmigration (samsāra), destitute of solid essence (a-sára)," and thus is imbued with a pessimistic tinge, peculiar to the Hindu religion of asceticism and renunciation. A few examples suffice to illustrate this :
(0-1) asaro 'yam saṁsāraḥ/giri-nadī-vegopamam yauvanam/ trnāgnisamaṁ jīvitam/abhra-cchāyā-sadrśā bhogāh/svapna-sadrśah putramitra-bhrtya-kalatra-varga-sambandhah ||.
(PPT. Book 1, tale 4, p. 23, lines 18-21).
"Essenceless is this world of transmigration. Youth is comparable to a rapid current in a mountain. Life is equal to fire on grass. Enjoyments are like clouds. Association with son, friends, servants and wife is like a dream.”
(0-2) aho asāro 'yaṁ saṁsārah/ksana-bhangurāh prānāḥ/svapnasadrśāh priya-samāgamāh/indrajālavat kuțumba-parigrahah/tad dharma muktvānyā gatir nāsti ||
(PPT. Book 3, tale 3, p.190, lines 6-8). “Oh, essenceless indeed is this world of transmigration. Life is instantly breaking. Meeting with dear persons is like a dream. A family is like a magic. Thus, there is no way other than (practising) meritorious acts."
(0-3) bhogās tungatarangabhanga-capalāh prāņāḥ kṣaṇa-dhvamsinah stokāny eva dināni yauvana-sukhaṁ prītih priyesv asthirā tat saṁsāram
