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INTRODUCTION
is free from the tendency to slander. His hands and feet are perfect, that is, fully developed. He has good hairs. His body is smooth, shining and muscular. His nose is deep and elevated. His looks are noble. His eyes are large. He loves the Religion of Jina. He is respectful to elders. He is permeated with faith. He is free from passions. He knows what time is proper, what place is proper, what rule is proper, what conduct is proper, what formality is proper and what discipline is proper. He has no greed. He is fearless. He is free from infatuation and wrong beliefs. He has gained victory over sleep and afflictions. He is satisfied with whatever little he gets. He observes five vows completely. He has control over threefold activities of body, mind and speech. The learned praise such a pupil. Gāthās 43-44 contain exhortation urging a person to become a good pupil. It is as follows: "Leaving aside all pride, you receive instruction from your teacher. One who becomes a pupil in a true sense, is approached by so many persons to become his pupil. But one who is a bad pupil is approached by none to become his pupil, that is, he can never be a teacher. Bitter and harsh words should be endured peacefully".
4. Vinayanigrahaguna (gāthās 54-67): Vinaya is the door to Emancipation. It should not be shunned. Karmas of an humble person get destroyed even though he has meager knowledge of scriptures. One who conquers the rude by one's humility and the wicked by one's virtues conquers the three worlds. One who is arrogant and proud is not praised by the wise even though he is well versed in scriptures. A person possessed of vast knowledge of scriptures, is counted as one possessing meager knowledge of the scriptures, if he is devoid of virtues, especially humility. On the other hand, if a person performs penances, observes vows and follows good conduct, he is regarded as the one possessed of vast scriptural knowledge, even though he actually possesses little scriptural knowledge. In gāthā 66 it is stated that the scriptural knowledge acquired through study by a person devoid of vinaya is as fruitless to him as is the light of a lakh or a crore lamps to a blind man.
5. Jñanaguna (gathas 68-99) : The section begins with the statement-"Blessed are those who possess knowledge and good conduct". Three worlds, bondage, emancipation, soul, non-soul, merit, demerit, inflow, protection, cleansing off-all these are comprehended by knowledge. The knowledge of what is good and what is bad enables us to accept and abandon them respectively. Knowledge and practice both should be regarded as equally important. Knowledge purifies conduct. One should devote oneself to the acquisition of knowledge. At the end it is said, "If knowledge of one pada (= word) causes spiritual agitation leading to disenchantment,
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