Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 17

एकस्यैकक्षणं दुःखम
मार्यमाणस्य जायते । सपुत्रपौत्रस्य पुन - विज्जीवं हृते धने ॥
-- UTENETE Eaksyaikakshanam duhkam
Māryamānasya jāyathe Saputrapauthrasya punah
yavajjivam hrite dhane “The person who is slain experiences anguish for a moment but if somebody's wealth is robbed not only he but his children and grand-children experience anguish throughout their lives."
On account of this reason theft is a greater sin than slaying. Instead of committing theft it is better to beg to keep the body and soul together. This is what a poet has said :
वरंभिक्षाशित्वं न च परधनास्वादनसुखम् । Varam bhikshāsithvan na cha paradhanāswadanasukham
"It is better to eat the food that is obtained through beggary than to enjoy the wealth that belongs to someone else."
The hoarding of unnecessary things also is theft. It is said "Every living being has the right to acquire and possess what is absolutely necessary for its existence.
Inyone who possesses more than what he needs merits censure and punishment."
According to this statement even the hoarding of acquired things amounts to stealing.
According to Uttarādhyāyana Sūtra greed for money is the cause for theft. The statement is that a man who takes possession of (TT) what is not given commits a theft because he grows unhappy under the impact of the vice of discontentment.