Kartikeyanupreksha

Author(s): Swami Kumar, A N Upadhye, Kailashchandra Shastri
Publisher: Paramshrut Prabhavak Mandal

Page 63

KĀRTTIKEYANUPREKSA
commented upon. The second is found in mss. Ba and Ma and seems to be an alternative for No. 384 which also is explained by Subhacandra. It is difficult to say which alternative was original and which a subsequent addition.
The distribution of gāthās according to anupreksās stands thus. Introductory 1-3 (3); adhruva-a. 4-22 (19); asarana-a. 23-31 (9); saṁsāra-a. 32-73 ( 42 ); ekatva-a. 74-79 (6); anyatva-a. 80-82 (3); asucitva-a. 83-87 (5); asrava-a. 88-94 (7); samvara-a. 95-101 (7); nirjarā-a 102-114 (13); loka-a. 115-283 (169+1=170); bodhi-durlabha-a. 284-301 (18); dharma-a. 302-491 (190+1=191). Thus nearly three fourth of the work is devoted to the exposition of the two anupreksās, loka and dharma.
c) SUMMARY OF THE CONTENTS
After saluting the Divinity, the author announces his intention to expound Anuprekşās which give joy to the pious. They are twelve in number: 1) adhruva, Impermanence; 2) asarana, Helplessness; 3) saṁsāra Cycle of Transmigration; 4) ekatva, Loneliness; 5) anyatva, Separateness of the Self and non-self; 6) asuci, Impurity of Body; 7) ásrava, Influx of Karma; 8) sarvara, Stoppage of Karmic Influx ; 9) nirjarā, Shedding of Karma; 10) loka, Universe; 11) bodhi-durlabhatva, Rarity of Religious Enlightenment; and 12) dharma, Law expounded by Jina. One should understand them, and reflect on them with pure mind, speech and body (1-3).
I Adhruvānuprekşā
Whatever originates is necessarily destroyed: there is nothing eternal so far as its modifications are concerned. Birth, youth and wealth are accompanied respectively by death; oldage and loss : thus everything is subjected to decay. Acquaintances, relatives and possessions are all temporary like a newly shaped mass of clouds. Sense-pleasures, attendants, domestic animals and conveyances are all temporary like rain-bow or flash of lightening. Meeting with kinsmen is temporary like that of travellers on the way. Howsoever nourished and decked, the body decays like an unbaked earthen pot which crumbles when filled with water. (Goddess of) Wealth is not steady even with merited monarchs, then what to say with common men. She does not feel pleasure in the company of anybody: she stays for a couple of days and is fickle like ripples of water. Wealth, therefore, must be enjoyed and given to the worthy as kindly gifts: in this manner, human life is made more fruitful. Wealth that is hoarded is like stone: it goes to others or serves the end of rulers and relatives. One wbo earns wealth