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## Vaitaliya Study Commentary - According to Sutragama
The recitation of the sutra should be done with adherence to the flawless, primordial qualities. The first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabhdev, addressing those who had developed dispassion, those who had been rejected by Bharat Chakravarti, or addressing the gods, demons, humans, snakes, and animals, says: "O noble beings! You should attain the knowledge of Dharma, which is in the form of right knowledge, right faith, and right conduct, because such an opportunity is rare."
It is very difficult to obtain a human birth, a land of karma, an Aryan country, a noble family, birth and residence, and the ability of all senses to perform their respective functions.
Seeing the eagerness to listen and the origin of faith, the Lord expresses his thoughts, saying: "Why do you not attain the knowledge of right knowledge, right faith, and right conduct? A wise man who has obtained the aforementioned materials should abandon the consumption of trivial and insignificant matters and attain the knowledge of true Dharma. The Dharma, which is the true bliss in the form of liberation, propounded by the Jina, is available in this human existence. It is not appropriate to consume trivial, insignificant, and unpleasant objects of desire that cause suffering. If a sea filled with vaidurya and other gems is obtained, then how appropriate is it to take a dull, insignificant piece of glass? It is never appropriate. The man who has not practiced Dharma will find it difficult to attain knowledge, faith, and conduct in the afterlife. The word 'khalu' in this verse is determinative. A man who indulges in worldly pleasures and becomes corrupt even once from the practice of Dharma, wanders in this world for an infinite period. This is what the Agamas say. Here, the word 'hu' is used in the sense of determination. The nights that have passed, do not return. The time of youth, etc., that has passed, does not return. It is said:
"Alas! Why am I negligent, even after obtaining this human birth, which is difficult to obtain even after millions of births? The lifespan that has passed does not return, even if it is that of Indra. In this world, a righteous life, where restraint is paramount, is not easily attainable. A broken thread of life cannot be mended. It cannot be joined again." This is the meaning of this verse.
The word 'sambodh' means awakening. A man who is asleep, who is in deep sleep, is awakened. When sleep arises, there is sleep and slumber. There are four deposits, namely, name, sleep, awakening, and establishment. Of these, the commentators explain the deposit of the appointed substance and the deposit of feeling, leaving aside the deposit of name and establishment. In this verse, the substance of sleep and the feeling of awakening are expressed. The substance of sleep is the beginning, and the feeling of awakening is the end. Therefore, by accepting the beginning and the end, one should also accept the feeling of sleep and the substance of awakening in between.
The sleep experienced due to the rise of the darshanavaran karma is the substance of sleep, and the absence of knowledge, faith, and conduct is the feeling of sleep. The awakening of a sleeping man in the substance of sleep is the substance of awakening, and the self-possession of knowledge, faith, conduct, austerity, and restraint are the feelings of awakening. Here, only the feeling of awakening is described. This is clearly revealed by the latter part of this verse. Here, one should understand four distinctions from sleep and awakening, in relation to the distinction between substance and feeling.