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THE GEMS OF JAINISM
The ocean keeps grass on its surface and puts the gems at the bottom; the master despises the good servant but honours the wicked.
Swarms of bees leave the lotuses and desire to go to the temples of elephants; those that aim at getting what is difficult, do not mind the distance.
By virtues one can get only fame but not wealth; people get fruit which is written on their forehead by destiny; a lion is not worth a cowrie but elephants cost lacs.
To whom is life not dear? Who does not wish for wealth? But a noble man counts them as straw in hours of difficulty.
People take fruit from a tree but neglect the bitter leaves; and yet the great tree, like a noble man, places them on its lap.
There is no doubt that the eyes of the people recollect their previous birth and incidents of previous birth; for when they see things they do not like, their eyes are closed, and when they see things or persons they like, the eyes dilate.
A wicked man, by taking a long jump, kills himself as well as others; a stone fallen from the mountaintop powders others along with itself.
The whole world is striving for greatness; but greatness is obtained by hand that is freely distributing charities.
I offer my homage to the noble man, rare in this world, who conceals his own virtues and menifests those of others.
Even that God Visnu became a dwarf while begging alms of Bali; if therefore you desire greatness, give to others but do not beg of any one.
God has created ripe fruits on trees in the forest for birds; it is better to have that pleasure but not to have words of the wicked falling on our ears.
The days pass away quickly; the cherished desires lag behind; whatever is in possession is to be respected and accepted; do not sit idle saying: "It will come to me."
Anybody can get without any distinction a slab of stone from mountain to lie and fruit from tree to eat; and still men do not like the forest when they leave home,
Sesamum can be so called so long as the oil is not pressed out; but when it is pressed out, the same sesamum loses its quality of being a sesamum and becomes oilcake-wicked.
Even ascetics get barks from trees to wear and fruits to eat; the servants get these from their masters only after showing courtesy and respect.
Adopted from KUMARAPALACARITRA
of Hemachandracharya
