________________
Ways of the World
105
939. Men of high and steady hearts ( dhīrahiaā) look upon. the families (of their birth ) as mere (temporary) resting places of sojourn, to which, one after another (annannāim), they come in their unending life of (soul's ) migration.
940. (Ordinary) people lighten their misery in sighs produced by unhappiness, as does an elephant who overcomes his exhaustion by blowing out spray with effort (from his trunk).
941. That the tear-drops come out of the eyes ) under the guise of joy at a meeting of the dear relations is an indication of) the fact that the hearts start (melting and ) trickling under (the impact of) the fright of (impending) bereavement.
942. O fool, how can there be any relaxation (and release ) for you, when fastened by the bonds of love and affection, which (jo) would only tighten up firmly on you, as you try to ) stretch ( tamanta ) them to extricate yourself (from them)?
943. The get-togethers of people, which once had become very close, having cut short all distance, (dissolve and ) develop remoteness of great distance and are thus like the two ends of a loosened girdle.
944. In the first (formative stage of life ) there are (of course ) no merits ( acquired ), nor the potential requisites thereof; but thereafter they are ( to be noticed ) along with merits. Now, however, only the merits exist; and they too, alas! (after a time ) are no longer there !
945. In course of time, after death (kālavasā ), appreciative utterances with reference to the merits of the great man's ( surviying) body of fame, become rare and rare and persist (as reminders ) here and there, like (scattered) fragments of the bones (of his body).
946. Vicious traits, arising out of the permanently abiding desires (within ), serve as bondage for men of mean behaviour. The merits of good men, however, ( strongly resist and ) cause no temptations, (on the borderline of which ) they (temptations ) immediately (jhatti) halt.
947. This is real detachment when the man's heart finds happiness (and contentment) in whatever possessions have come ( to his hand ). Censure of Laksmī, however, (on one's part),
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
