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## The Study of the Path
And so on. Thus, in the world, truly, there is no helper other than Dharma. Considering this, the Muni, remaining silent, restrained, should speak only what is conducive to Dharma. ||18||
**Commentary:** The virtuous one, as described earlier, does not experience attachment or aversion upon receiving pleasant objects. He considers what he sees as unseen, and what he hears as unheard. He does not adorn his body as if it were a corpse. He keeps Dharma firmly in his sight, remaining indifferent to desires and aversions, and unattached to food, water, etc. If, upon entering a village or city, he develops an inclination towards non-restraint and aversion towards restraint, he should abandon it, keeping it away from himself. In this regard, the Sutra-kar states that if a great saint, whose body is covered in dirt due to not bathing, and who sustains life through coarse, dry chickpeas, etc., develops a dislike for restraint due to the arising of karmas, he should consider the nature of the world, knowing it as it is. He should contemplate the suffering of hell and animal realms, and considering the short lifespan of worldly beings, he should abandon this aversion towards restraint. Doing so, he should speak words conducive to restraint in solitude. This passage is connected to the following. If, due to past practices, this virtuous one develops an inclination towards non-restraint, towards sinful conduct, he should overcome it, suppressing it, and strive to uphold restraint.
Again, the Sutra-kar describes the qualities of the virtuous one. The virtuous one who resides in a Gachchha, in a Sangha, has many virtuous ones who support his restraint. Whether he is a solitary wanderer, a pratima-pratipanna, a pratima-dhari, or a Jina-kalpi, whether he wanders alone or with many virtuous ones, if someone asks him or not, he should speak in a way that is conducive to restraint, that does not hinder restraint, and that is connected to Dharma. What should the virtuous one do, considering this? Or what should he speak? In this context, the Sutra-kar says: A being goes alone to the next world, carrying his own good and bad karmas. No one helps him. He comes from another existence, from another bhava, with his own karmas. Therefore, it is said: A being acts alone, experiences the fruits of his actions alone, is born alone, attains death alone, and goes to another existence alone, and so on. Therefore, in this world, there is truly no helper other than Dharma. Considering this, the virtuous one should speak words inspired by restraint.
Om Om Om
**Self-reflection, or hearing from others, one should speak Dharma beneficial to the people. Those who are condemned, who are used for the purpose of obtaining results, are not served by the wise, the virtuous.** ||19||
**Translation:** The virtuous one should teach Dharma, knowing it from religious principles, or hearing it from others, in a way that is beneficial to the people. Those actions that are condemned, that are bad, and that are done for the purpose of obtaining results, are not performed by the wise, the virtuous, the self-powerful.