Awakening

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 25

spiritual attainmetos both the friends became infatuated with Mohini. Mohini said that she would accept whoever was mightier of the two. They had to show their strength only through a duel.
In consequence, the two hegan to fight. At the end of the duel, one died. The power of the other dwindled to that of two from that of lwenty two warriors. On account of this, Brauma, Vishnu and Maheswar escaped from defeat and disgrace. Hence lust is dreadful.
The two purusharthas; Artha and Kama stand bet. wcen Dharma and Moksha. This point demands deep consideration. Artha and Kama should be struck with the (Ankusa) iron-hook of Dharma. Wealth remains with us if we utilize it for others. We can make our desires acquire nobility and elevation by transferring them from woman to mother; liom mother to me::tor and from inentor to the Lord. Thus desire becomes chastened and sublimated ; and kama can be destroyed with the iron-hook of Dharma.
By means of Dharma, we can atiain felicity in this world and the other world. Dharma gives us sense and wisdom. Some great kings and emperors of India renounced their artha and kama; and became detached, omniscient and all-seeing; and attained Nirvana. Hence of the four purusharthas, the place of Dharma is the first and foremost.