________________
166
ABDHA-MAGADHT READER
15. As the virtuous Citra, for old friendship's sake, loved the king who was attached to sensual pleasures, and as he had at heart his welfare, he spoke to him the following words :
16. “ All singing is but prattle, all dancing is but mocking, all ornaments are but a burden, all pleasures produce but pains.
17. “O king, the pleasures which the ignorant like, but which produce pains, do not delight pious monks who care not for pleasure, but are intent on the virtues of right conduct.
18. “Excellent king, the lowest caste of men is that of Sovágas, to which we twice belonged; as such we were loathed by all people ; and we lived in the hamlets of Sovágas ; then we acquired the Karman the fruit of which we now enjoy.
19. “ In that miserable birth we lived in the hamlets of Sovagas; detested by all people ;
20. " You are now a king of great power and prosperity, enjoying the reward of your good actions ; put from you the transitory pleasures, and enter the order for the sake of the highest good!
21. "He who in this life has done no good actions and has not practised the Law, repents of it in the next world when he has become a prey to Death.
22. “As a lion takes hold of an antelope, so death leads off a man in his last hour; neither mother, nor father, nor brother will, at that time, save a particle of his life.
23. “Neither his kinsmen, nor his friends, nor
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
