Gaudavaho

Author(s): Vakpatiraj, Narhari Govind Suru, P L Vaidya, A N Upadhye, H C Bhayani
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 536

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satisfies the soul within or the man's conscience (37), which is so difficult to please ( दुक्ख परिओसिअव्व ) .
883. It is natural to feel justly proud for the merit you have. A top-ranking musician, for instance, is bound to entertain feelings of legitimate pride for the art he possesses and he cannot shed it off, howsoever humble and modest he may br. And even if he tries to suppress this feeling and would not show it outwardly, his heart throbs with this feeling doubly strengthened ( विउणअरं ) .
Notes
884. "I do not know says the Poet, what exactly good men feel and think, when they find themselves being hurt (fa) by rough, discourteous behaviour, almost amounting to insult and humiliation, at the hands of the people in authority. This much I know, however, that they will not re-act in retaliation, inspite of the offence given ( अवरद्धे ).
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885. Virtues or the good values of behaviour in man's life point out by contrast the maximum depravity (महिम - महत्त्वं ) of conduct to which a man of vices goes down in his wretched life. If it happens that virtues or values even can gain the benefits (T), equal to those of vices, then our salutation to these virtues also. Take, for instance, the problem of corruption. We know how a corrupt man gets rich in no time. If a man, incorruptible, can be equally rich, then my hat is certainly off to such a man too.
886. Virtues and vices are traits that have to be inculcated in early years and then later to be cultivated and developed. Basically man is neither wicked nor vicious. Circumstances and surroundings give a tilt to his innate nature one way or the other. Therefore, when required by conditions in which he finds himself, a good man has to act the rôle and character of a villain and vice versa. This stage of the colourless condition, neither black nor white, is the border or boundary-line (a) from where virtues throb and vibrate far and deep down in man's nature.
887. The sinner can be a saint, but not vice versa, especially if the man is deeply entrenched in virtues, practised by him all his life.
888. Even though lacking in special merit (परिहीणगुण) if we find that he is essentially and truly (g) a good man, then he deserves to be treated with respect, in common (4) with other