________________
Mahāvira's Words by Walther Schubring
which crawl and those which fly sometimes high, sometimes low, if they feed on his flesh and blood, then he should not kill them and should not wipe them away. Animals wound his body, but he should not jump up from his place; tormented by influences of many kinds, he [indeed] should endure. [2.) (So) he arrives at the end of his life-time, away from the many fetters. But the following is to be preferred by the competent and informed ones: it is a further practice which the Nāya-son has preached. (85) In the twice three cases 86 he should get rid of movement (of the limbs), unless it is for the sake of his life. He should not lie on living plants, carefully he should lay down on a prepared abode, become free (of needs), without food; if temptations affect him in these [last] respects, then he should bear them. If he loses his senses (because of hunger) then he should eat accordingly; indeed, he is without blame who is unaffected [and] completely devoted. He might step forwards [and] backwards, bend [and] stretch himself in order to maintain the body (still] in alliance ( with the soul], or even [for a while lie) there unconscious. He might walk around if he is tired (of laying down), or he might adopt an ascetic) position and keenly adhere to it. If he is finally tired of the ascetic posture87 then he may sit down. If he sits, then he should direct all his senses at the way of dying to which nothing can be compared. If [in grasping for a support) he stumbles upon a piece of wood full of worms, then he should look for one (115) that is not so; he should not support himself on anything out of which something can arise that is to be avoided; he gets up from there (and rather) bears all temptations. [3.] He, however, who performs the following action, exerts himself even more. In complete command of his limbs he should not stir from his
39,30
*See, e.g., Dhaky 1991, pp. 120ff. (WB). 30 Heart, mouth and hand, and the own deed, instigation and approval. * In line 39, 24 read thāņeņa; antaso according to Suy. I 1,4, 11. 88 In line 39, 30 read savva-gāya-nirodhe.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
