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## Vitaraga
- **Shri Veeryadhyayana.** "Can anyone be said to be free from passions (kashaya) while dwelling in the realm of passions? Even one who restrains passions is similar to one who has passions." (1)
**Shadow:** "Can it be said that anyone is free from passions while dwelling in the realm of passions? Even one who restrains passions is similar to one who has passions." (2)
What is the nature of such a person? The text explains: "Free from bondage" - free from passions, which are the essence of bondage. Bondage arises from passions being the cause of karmic existence. As it is said, "Bondage is due to passions." Or, one who is free from bondage is like one who is free from bondage. Similarly, "in all ways" - subtle and gross - "cut off" - eliminated - "bondage" - passions - one who has cut off bondage, "drives away" - propels - "sin" - karmic causes - and, like a surgeon removing a thorn, removes the remaining karma, destroys it completely, without any residue. Another reading is "he cuts off the thorn from himself." (10)
To show what he uses to remove the thorn, the text says:
**Commentary:** A person who is fit for liberation is called a "bhavy." He is also called a "dravya." The use of the word "dravya" in the sense of "bhavy" is established by the sutra "dravya-ncha-bhavy-e" in Panini's grammar. Or, a person who is free from passions, which are the essence of "dravya," is a "dravya." Or, a person who has few passions is called a "dravya." It is said that no one is free from passions while dwelling in the sixth and seventh stages of the realm of passions. Can this be said? The answer is that even one who has passions, but restrains them from arising, is similar to one who is free from passions. In that sense, he is free from passions. What is the nature of such a person? The text explains that he is free from the bondage of passions, because passions are the cause of bondage only when they lead to karmic existence. It is said that the state of karmic bondage is due to passions.
Or, he is free from bondage because he is like one who is free from bondage. He is "cut off from bondage" because he eliminates subtle and gross passions. His bondage is cut off. He removes the karmic influx, which is the cause of sin, like a surgeon removing a thorn, and destroys the remaining karma completely. Here, another reading is "he cuts off the thorn from himself."
This means that he cuts off and destroys the eight types of karma, which are like thorns clinging to his soul.
The text then shows what he uses to remove the karmic thorns: