Jinamanjari 2001 04 No 23

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 63

Armasiddhi Sāśtra. They sing poems with great ease and deep devotion and resort to a path of bhakti rather than the difficult path of attaining enlightenment through knowledge. The other reason for the popularity and importance of this poem lies in the fact that śrīmad himself had lived his life in the manner and spirit described in this poem. He did not care for his physical well being and perhaps that is the reason he suffered from incurable disease and died when he was only 33 years old.
THE POEM IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM WITH TRANSLATION
It is hard to find English translations of this poem. Dr. Saryu Mehta's book Shrimad Rajchandra, A Great Seer provides a translation on page No. 146. Another translation by J. L. Jaini, which can be seen on the Internet, is not literal and resembles more explanatory notes rather than a translation. Here is the original version with my own attempt at a translation.
bahu punya keră punja thi śubha deha mänava no malyo; toye are! bhava-cakra no āňto nahi ekke ţalyo; sukha prāpta kartam sukha tale che leśa e lakse laho, kşaņa kșana bhayankara bhāva-marane kim aho rācī raho? (1)
This auspicious human body has been realised after doing many meritorious deeds (in previous lives), but alas not a single turn of the cycle (of birth and rebirth) is reduced. Bear in mind that (real) happiness goes away on achieving (material) happiness. Why then are you engulfed inthe terrible mental death every moment? (1)
lakşmi ane adhikära vadhatām, śum vadhyum te to kaho? śum kuoumba ke parivära thi vadhavāpaņum, e naya graho; vadhavāpaņum samsāranum nara deha ne hārī javo, eno vicāra nahīm ahoho! eka pala tama ne havo! (2)
Tell me what has really been gained with the expansion of wealth and power? And take heed, what is achieved by expanding the family ? Real gain in the ocean of life (samsāra) lies in loosing the
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