Atmanushasana

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

Page 30

ÅTMÁNUSHÅSANA.
25
उपरि दिविजान्मध्ये कृत्वा नरान्विधिमन्त्रिणा पतिरपि नृणां त्राता नैको ह्यलंध्यतमोऽन्तकः ॥ ७५ ॥
75. The minister-Karma has placed evil-minded Asura (kind of celestials) and hellish beings below, the heavenly beings above; and human beings in the middle (of universe) and surrounded them with innumerable continents and oceans, and further with the three sheaths of atmosphere, there is not even one protecting guardian of man-kind. Surely death is the most insurmountable,
अविज्ञातस्थानो व्यपगततनुः पापमलिन: खलो राहुभास्वदशशतकराक्रान्तभुवनम् । स्फुरन्तं भास्वन्तं किल गिलति हा कष्टमपर परिप्राप्ते काले विलसितविधेः को हि बलवान् ॥७६ ॥
76. It is a great pity that the wicked trunkless Rahu, dark, from sin, and of unknown abode, verily devours the glowing sun, who with his thousand dazzling rays overspreads the earth. Who indeed is (more) powerful (than) the operative age-Karma when the time (of its cessation) arrives.
Commentary. The mythological belief in Indian astronomy with regard to the phenomenon of the solar eclipse is that at fixed periods of time the Sun inspite of his brilliary power and beauty and grandeur is subject to being swallowed by the planet Rahu which is believed to be a mere head without a trunk, of dark complexion, and of low and unknown origin. In the same way when the age-Karma has worked out, and Death comes, all power and glory, is of no avail. Herein Death is compared to Rahu, and Soul to the Sun. The moral is that Death is inevitable, and therefore one must not delay, but must expedite the adoption of right conduct for eternal bliss.
उत्पाद्य मोहमदविह्वलमेव विश्वं वेधाः स्वयं गतघृणष्ठगवद्यथेष्टम् । संसारभीकरमहागहनान्तराले हन्ता निवारयतुमत्र हि कः समर्थः ॥ ७७ ।।