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304
SÛTRAKRITÂNGA.
is a naked monk : from all this a wise man should abstain. (20)
A stool or bed or a seat in a house, asking of news and recollection (of past sports): from all this a wise man should abstain. (21)
Fame, glory, and renown; honours and respectful treatment; all pleasures in the whole world: from all this a wise man should abstain. (22)
A monk (should be content) with such food and drink as will sustain his life; he should give a portion of it to others : [from all this a wise man should abstain ?.] (23)
Thus spoke the Nirgrantha, the great sage Mahâvira; he who possesses infinite knowledge and faith has taught the Law and the sacred texts 2. (24)
In speaking (a monk) should use as few words as possible ; he should not delight in another's foibles; he should avoid deceiving speech', and should answer after ripe reflection. (25)
One will repent of having used the third kind of speech *; a secret should not be made known. This is the Nirgrantha's commandment. (26)
1 The last part of this verse is here repeated from the preceding ones; but it is quite out of place here.
? Here apparently ended the original treatise; the following verses are not directly connected with it.
Mâitthânam, always rendered mâtristhanam. I think it is a regular corruption for mâyâsthânam. The second syllable of the word becomes short before two consonants, and then the ya was changed into i with which it is almost interchangeable.
• The four kinds of speech are (1) true speech, (2) untrue speech, (3) speech partly true and partly untrue, (4) speech which is neither true nor untrue, see part i, p. 150.-Inaccurate statements are intended here.
