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Iṣṭopadeśa - The Golden Discourse
but an ignorant person (due to the presence of attachment), even if not involved in sensualities, really indulges in them. This is akin to a person performing certain acts but, in reality, is not responsible for them.
Note: An assistant, on behalf of the owner of a business, performs all duties, but is neither the owner of the business, nor shares its profit or loss. In the same way, the right believer, due to the absence of attachment, is non-indulgent, and the wrong believer, due to the presence of attachment, is indulgent.
Jain, Vijay K. (2012), "Acharya Kundkund's Samayasara", Vikalp Printers, p. 93-94.
The knowledgeable man runs the affairs of his life with a sense of detachment, not abandoning himself to sense-gratification. He indifferently experiences the pleasant or painful feelings due to the fruition of karmas and, in due course of time, the karmas wear themselves down.
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Jaina religious texts are replete with the examples of kings and emperors, possessing unmatched glory, power and wealth, taking recourse to renunciation, and absorbing themselves in the task of self-purification that leads to liberation. Emperor Bharata, the illustrious son of Lord Rishabha Deva, the First Tirthankara, was undoubtedly one of the greatest rulers on this earth, enjoying unimaginable splendour, power and influence. He ruled his kingdom with a strong sense of justice for many years, never abandoning himself to sense-gratification. One day he discovered a white hair in his head and taking it to be the messenger and herald of old age, immediately decided to become a Digambara ascetic (muni). Because of his growing renunciation over the years, he destroyed his inimical karmas in an antarmuhurta (less than 48 minutes) and became Omniscient. He attained to the Supreme Purity (nirvāṇa) at the end of his worldly life.
