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Preface
Worthy saints who have vanquished delusion (moha) and are disciples of ancient-preceptors (pārvācārya) exist even today. Untouched by attachment to possessions, they provide solace to all. (verse 33)
Under the spell of delusion (moha), this silly man does not see the god-ofdeath (yama) who is incessantly snatching away his body. Blinded by the (lust of) sense-pleasures he is unable to perceive this through any of his senses (including the mind). Deep within him, he carries a deep pit of desires in which the world appears to be just like an atom. (verses 34-36)
Long-life, wealth and (strong and beautiful) body, etc., are obtained from the previously earned merit (punya). The soul devoid of such merit cannot have these attributes even after excessive toil. Excellent men with discrimination work hard, incessantly and cheerfully, for the sake of their future lives. (verse 37)
There is no real taste in the bitter poison of sense-pleasures. For the sensual man, sense-objects will ever remain inaccessible. Even the ‘kingof-kings' (cakravarti) has to renounce all his grandeur to attain the eternal bliss of liberation. (verses 38-40)
The householder, in general, exhibits three kinds of conduct: full of merit (when engaged in auspicious activity like meditation on the Self), full of demerit (when engaged in enjoyment of sense-pleasures), and part merit and part demerit (when engaged in activities like building of a temple). The torment that he experiences springs from ignorance. The happiness that he seeks lies in vanquishing the demon of desires. There is no relief from the heat of anguish (misery) as long as the fire of desires is burning. (verses 41-43)
The ways of karmas (read fate or daiva) are amazing! No point toiling for worldly prosperity as it will certainly lead to accumulation of demerit (pāpa). (verses 44-45)
Dharma (right conduct) is that where there is no adharma (wrong conduct); happiness is that where there is no misery; knowledge is that where there is no ignorance; and 'gati' or state-of-existence is that where there is no coming back to the world. Wealth can never be the vehicle to acquire dharma, happiness, knowledge and pious state-of-existence. (verse 46)
(XXIII)
