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110
Mahāvira's Words by Walther Schubring
25,5
[c.) (Truly I say: just as '94-) In a pond full to the brim he stands on a dry] level surface, (he has mastered the desires, he takes care of himself, so he stands there in the middle of the water;) look at those who [comparable to him) are on guard on all sides, 19s look at the great wise ones in [the middle of the world, and those who insightfully [and] awakened have renounced activity19 and 'lead their life desiring death.' So I say.) (With a) doubtful"97 heart one does not obtain the proper spiritual disposition. [He doubts:] 'whether someone is following [me]? whether no one is following [me]?' How should (such a one in monastic life) not become disgusted if no one who could follow him follows him198? (But] what the Jina has proclaimed is true (and) free of doubt. (To a faithful one (on the other hand], a fellow monk, a wandering companion, who regards (something] to be right, [this] proves to be sometimes right, sometimes wrong. If he regards (something) to be wrong then this too) proves to be sometimes right, sometimes wrong. If he regards something to be right, or if [he doubts] whether [it is) right or wrong then, on examination, it proves to be right; if he regards (something] to be wrong or if she doubts] whether (it is right or wrong then, on examination, it proves to be wrong. May the one who employs examination tell the one who refrains from examinations: "examine rightly!"--In this way, then, is the link (199) destroyed.) Observe the fate of the one who (ready to act] has set out and the one who has stopped. (Here too one should not show that one is (still] in an immature state.)200—[Do not doubt:) You yourself are namely the (96) (creature) which you
15
20
"» (Such) a fragment tam jahā avi like se jahā vi in 3,6 is probably induced by harae on the example of 27,9. The word avi only seemingly belongs to the following verse line, which rather is to be supplemented somehow differently. 19 The word gutte, should be without a comma, if taken as an accusative plural.
196 Thereafter follows: "see, this is righteously handled", but which fits only 20, 14. Line 6 should be in single quotes and connected directly to line 5.
197 A sloka fragment: viigimcha-samāvanne. 19 Is ananugacchamāne the same as ananugamyamānah?
199 With an explanation in brackets Jacobi 1884, p. 50 translates: "the connection (i.e. the continuity of sins) is broken" following sil.'s karma-santati-rüpo (224b10 on sūtra 163). Cūrņi 193, 6, on the other hand, says samdhānam samdhi darisana-samdhi-m-eva and probably read jusie (for jhosie), explaining this by asevita, as against kşapita by T. Thus, according to the Cūrni 'the connection with the religion is maintained' (WB).
200 The last sentences from "in this way" onwards interrupt the context. They might have been linked to 25, 7: "so I say." For a similar displacement of a sentence group see 11, 21ff.
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