Mahavira and his Teaching

Author(s): C C Shah, Rishabhdas Ranka, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti

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14
K. R. NORMAN
Alsdorf's figures for Sūya. I, 4 show 8 occurrences of -- after the caesura in 106 pādas. The 5 examples which occur in C have been eliminated in the revised text above by reading -m instead of -m before a vowel (jehim 8cd, evam 13cd, tehim 20cd), shortening a final vowel (bohi 15cd), or reading an alternative form (muccē instead of muccejja 8ab). This then gives 13 occurrences of - in 38 pādas of Utt. 8, as opposed to 16 in 106 pādas in Su ya. I, 4.
V.
TRANSLATION
1. In the unstable samsāra, in the thicket of delusion (which is) full of misery, what indeed would that action be by which one would escape a bad transition ? 2. Having given up one's former connection(s), one should not bestow affection upon anything; without affection amidst things which cause affection, a monk is freed from faults and defects. 3. Therefore the best of sages, fully endowed with knowledge and insight, devoid of delusion, speaks for the benefit of all living creatures, for their release. 4. A monk should give up every fetter and contention of such a kind; such a one, seeing (them), is not attached to all kinds of sensual pleasures. 5. Sunk down in faults and the temptations of enjoyment, opposed to benefit, welfare, and intelligence, a stupid deluded fool is bound like a fly in glue. 6. These sensual pleasures are hard to throw aside; they are not easily given up by weak men; but there are saints with good vows who cross the uncrossable (samsāra) as merchants (the sea). 7. Some stupid fools, saying “we are ascetics”, (like) animals not understanding the killing of living creatures, go to hell because of (their) evil views, 8. One should not approve of the killing of living creatures; one may one day be released from all miseries. Thus it has been