Lord Mahavira Vol 01

Author(s): S C Rampuria
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

Page 66

Thus Sayeth Lord Mahâvira
57
I delight not in this body which sooner or later I must forsake. Evanescent it is as a bubble or foam.
Birth is suffering, infirmity is suffering, so is disease and so death. Ah! nothing but suffering is this world in which men pass through an endless travail.
Pleasures bring a momentary happiness but suffering afterwards suffering intense. And hence these are obstacles to liberation from mundane existence, and mines of woe.
As disastrous is the effect of the kimpaka fruit, so is the effect pleasures enjoyed.
Kimpaka fruit is beautiful in colour and taste but fatal when consumed; similar in effect are the pleasures.
He who is given to pleasures involveth himself, but he who is not involveth not; he who enjoyeth pleasure must wander through succession of births and he who enjoyeth not will be free.
Set not thy heart, therefore, on the grace of woman's limbs nor on the sweetness of her prattles and her glances, for these make our passions and desires wax.
Desist ye from sin at once. For transient is the life of men. Those who are engrossed here and given to pleasures, for want of control, will be deluded.
As a tortoise whithdraweth his limbs within his own shell so a wise man should by spiritual exertion withdraw his senses from sin within his self.
Whosoever is determined that he would give up his body rather than dharma, his senses ever fail to move him as tempestuous wind fail to move a mountain. Of Vain Trust In Wealth, Cattle And Kin
Verily I say Death carrieth off a man in the end as a lion carrieth off a buck. For him mother is no help, nor father, nor brother.
Therefore, ye yourself are without protection, and as ye without protection, how can ye protect anybody else?
Fool is he who thinketh that his wealth, cattle and kin will save him, or that he will save them. But they are of no help, no protection.
Riches help him not in this world nor in the other. Though he hath known the right path, he sees it not for riches, like one who sees not the road when light is out.