________________
That reward is not promised to all those, who merely read or recite this text as it is said and believed by many. For getting the said reward it stipulates the condition of properly understanding and comprehending first five Fundamentals, and then earnestly practicing as per sixth Fundamental.
Deh Chhatän Jeni Dashä, Varte Dehätit; Te Jnäninä Charanmän, Ho Vandan Aganit.
My innumerable obeisance be at the feet of the enlightened, who behaves transcendentally while being embodied. (142)
Explanation & Discussion:
At the time of commencing this composition the obeisance was offered to the enlightened Guru. That was done for securing his blessing for successfully carrying out the work. Since that work is now over, the obeisance is offered to all the enlightened personages, who stay beyond the physical mode while being embodied. Such personages are mainly the omniscient Lords, who abide in the transcendental state. Though it is hard to describe that state, one can try to comprehend it in terms of the ladder of spiritual elevation.
Jainism stipulates 14 stages of spiritual elevation, which are analogous to the rungs of a ladder. The ascendance on the ladder is mainly in the form of overcoming the deluding Karma. Since the time immemorial the worldly souls have been under delusion about the true nature of soul. They are conditioned to react to the different situations with craving or aversion. Thereby they acquire the bondage of Karma; and for bearing the consequences thereof, they continue to take births. That stage relates to the baseline of the ladder. It is the 1st stage known as Mithyätva.
becomes clearer.
This is concomitantus uninterrupted, one
The perception-related delusion is overcome in the 4th stage when one gains the right perception. As the aspirant goes ahead, the perception becomes clearer, and thereby the character-related delusion also continues to go down. This is concomitant to climbing on the succeeding rungs of the ladder. If the progress stays uninterrupted, one can reach the 8th stage, which is termed as unprecedented. Thereafter the progress in overcoming delusion is swift. It culminates in the 12th stage, when the character-related delusion is totally overcome. The rest of the defiling Karmas are destroyed at the end of that stage. The person thus attains omniscience and reaches the 13th stage.
That does not mean the end of embodiment, because one has to remain embodied till the end of that life. As such, the activities relating to
