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APRIL, 1967
137
Actress-like in gestures And dressed according to the injunctions of erotic science Whose arms are as tender as a lotus-stalk Whose glance pierces the heart of an amorous As a spear pierces the heart of a deer And who holds the restive ear-rings disdainfully on her cheeks Whose palm is rosy as tender aśokafoliage Whose neck is as darling as a charming shell A centre-piece of all enchanting maidens With a sweet face overpowering to lovers all Can ever be able to raise Even a ripple of passion in thy settled heart. 7-8-9
Oh Lord ! Thy sermon profound Sounds like mixed note flowing from a flute or vīnās As played by the Kinnaras? Or like charming music raised by the gods It removes instantaneously the doubt Raised by a false preceptor or intellect or god. 10
Oh Lord ! Worship and worship men thy Commandments That are the sacred Agamas, twelve in number Which like a water-tide Put out the forest-fire of doubt ; Which Sun-like radiate with accuracy The subtle notions of jiva and ajiva; Which, like a vessel, aid The crossing of the worldly ocean ; And which favours with quick embrace, Of kevala10 knowledge by bhavya jīvas11 11
Oh Lord ! The gods pour in shower On thy holy congregation Flowers such as lotus, nayasundara, sindhuvāra,
5 Janesia Asoka. . The Indian lute. ? The heavenly singers. I The canonical texts of the Jainas.
• The soul and the non-living substances. The principles of jiva and ajiva comprehend the whole universe.
10 Fifth kind of knowledge synonymous with omniscience. 11 Jivas or souls who are on the right path.
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