Atmanushasana

Author(s): J L Jaini
Publisher: Central Jaina Publishing House

Page 20

ÁTMÁNUSHÁSANA.
15
Commentary. The numerous cares and engagements of household affairs do not allow one a suitable opportunity for spiritual advancement. A blind person, while twisting a rope by one end, goes on untwisting it at the other; an elephant covers himself with dust soon after he is washed; and a madman's efforts are directed to no useful purpose. Similarly a person engaged in household affairs can not adopt the calm and contemplative conduct necessary for the attainment of eternal bliss.
कृष्ट्वाप्त्वा नृपतीनिषेव्य बहुशो भ्रान्त्वा वनेऽम्भोनिधौ किं क्लिश्नासि सुखार्थमत्र सुचिरं हा कष्टमज्ञानतः। तैलं त्वं सिकतासु यन्मृगयसे वाञ्छेद् विषाज्जीवितुं नन्वाशाग्रहनिग्रहात्तव सुखं न ज्ञातमेतत्त्वया ॥ ४२ ॥
42. It is a great pity that thou shouldst out of ignorance make thyself miserable so long in the world by ploughing and sowing the land, by serving kings in many ways, and by wandering about in jungles and on the seas, in pursuit of pleasure. Thou wishest(to get) oil from sand; thou wishest to live on poison. Dost thou not know that thy happiness lies in subduing the demon of desires ? अाशाहुताशनग्रस्तवस्त्वर्थी (स्तूचैः) वंशजां जनाः। हा किलैति (त्य) सुखच्छायां दुःखधर्मापनोद (दि) नः ॥४३॥
43. It is a pity that a person actuated by burning desires, should for comfort take to objects of sense-gratification, which would give him no comfort, but (like one who) being oppressed by the sun, seeks the shade of bamboo-trees, (which give no shade, but get ignited by friction).
खातेऽभ्यासजलाशयाजनि शिला प्रारब्धनिर्वाहिणा भूयोभेदि रसातलावधि ततः कृच्छात्सुतुच्छं किल । क्षारं वायुदगात्तदप्युपहतं पूतिकृमिश्रेणिभिः शुष्कं तच पिपासितोऽस्य सहसा कष्टं विधेश्चेष्टितम् ॥ ४४ ॥
44. With a will to complete what he had begun, a man with a desire to get water began digging and by dint