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18
KARMA BANDHA
(The Bondage of Karma)
The dust in the air settles down on a drop of oil. That clings to the cloth. In the same manner, the Asravas like Mithyathva, Avirati, the senses, Kashays, Yogas etc. bring in the external Karmavarganas and bind them to the soul. If such asravas as Mithyathva etc. are always functioning, the bondage of karma also keeps taking place.
As soon as karma sticks to the soul, certain qualities in it (prakriti); the time of its remaining firm (Sthithi) the violence or the mildness of its effect (Rasa) degree; and the proportion of the substance (Pradesh) are determined. These are called :
(1) Prakriti Bandh, (2) Sthithi Bandh, (3) Rasa Bandh and (4) Pradesh Bandh. When the karmas are thus gathered in the soul; a certain part gets a certain prakriti and the others get another prakriti; certain of them get certain sthithi and others get another sthithi; certain of them get a certain rasa and the others get another Rasa these become determined.
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For instance, certain karmas are determined to envelope the Prakritjnan. This is Prakrit Bandh. This is called the Jnanavaraniya Karma. The duration of the Sthithi (condition) ranges over some Sagarapam. This is called Sthithi Bandh. The determination of the degree of the effect as the fourth phase or the second phase etc., is called Rasa Bandh, The pudgals collecting in a certain proportion are called Pradesh Bandh. The karma rises to the surface when it has been ripened by time. It envelopes and chokes knowledge in accordance with its nature. If it is violent on account of the Rasa Bandh, it prevents knowledge from attaining depth. As a result of this, even if one makes strenuous efforts to study and to acquire knowledge, he cannot acquire even a little knowledge. If the Rasa Bandh is mild, at that phase, knowledge appears properly.
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