Jain Journal 1980 01

SR No.: 520057
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1980
Total Pages: 37
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 2 MB

Page 27

Nivvanam Paramam Jai Ghayasitti
Vva Pavae
RAM PRAKASH PODDAR
The third chapter of the Uttarājjhayanasutta elaborates upon the four important factors of life which are gradually more and more difficult to be attained. They are: human life, knowledge, faith and steadfastness in right conduct. Of all lives human life is the most difficult to be attained. The sinners are born as the denizens of hell and as lower animals. No one can be born as a human creature without a certain degree of piety. Human life having been attained, only the doubly blessed ones get the true knowledge. But knowledge too, without faith draws nectar in a sieve. For knowledge to be fruitful, faith is essential. Now faith also having been attained, what yet remains to be attained is steadfastness in right conduct. Human life, knowledge and faith all put together cannot bring emancipation from the bondage of the karmas unless the aspirant is steadfast in his right conduct. So what counts most is steadfastness in practising self-control, the latter being the essential factor in the pursuit of right conduct.
Thus all the four factors viz. human life, knowledge, faith and steadfastness in self-control enable one to stop further inflow of the karmas and to get rid of the already accumulated ones.
At this stage there occur in the text the following lines :
sohi ujjuyabhūyassa, dhammo suddhassa citthai, nivvāņam paramam jāi ghayasitti vva pāvae.
A literal translation of these lines may be rendered as follows :
There is purity for him who tends in a straight direction and righteousness stays with him who is pure, Such a one goes to final extinction like a fire sprinkled with ghee.