________________
100
Gaüdavaho
of Darbha grass retains its harshness (sharpness ) in its edges, although gone away from its tip.
891. It is this very quality of judgement (and discrimination) that, makes for wickedness in bad men who, having realised the excellence of merits in others, become doubly distressed.
892. It is, indeed, a delusion (moha ) ( mistaken notion ) that by the deprecation of merits in others, one's own merits will get a fillip ( payattamti). It is one's own greatness, that serves for the greatness of one's merits.
893. How (and why) should the totally meritless have a feeling ( of self-consciousness ) of their own greatness, when even lofty men of merits become degraded, as it were, by such a feeling being harboured ( vubbhamte) by them?
894. Greatness being the result of merits, bad men, laying stress on their ( so called ) greatness ' resulting from no merits, expect from merits ( or want of them ) quite a contrary creation.
895. Vanity, born of merits, never travels to the hearts of good men. Hence do their merits remain great, (as they should ), without having brought out resulting vanity (anivvīdhamaa).
896. The dirt of jealousy remains only so long, as long as thought ( vivea ) has not clearly dawned on the mind ). As soon as the divine fire blazes up, the ( earlier ) smoke goes away.
897. There is wonder when looking up high and fear when looking deep down below, as (of people ) gazing at a mountain and ( when ) peeping inside a well.
898. I wish to make myself relieved of all merits (I have ) for fear of the wicked, as I would throw away a garland of flowers, (apprehending) its provocation ( samkhoha ) ( being caused) to the poisonous snakes.
899. Observing how a man gets elated for merits, although the greatness ( and glory) of his merits has remained unsung (anahigia), even those men (the fame of) whose merits has gone over the whole world, (begin to ) waver (with apprehension ) about themselves.
900. A man with merits feels no concern (attachment) for a man of wealth, while men of wealth do not bother about men of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
