Parmatma Prakash

Author(s): Yogindra Acharya
Publisher: Central Jaina Publishing House

Page 66

237 ---245] PARMATMA-PRAKASH,
45 237. Thou should st not associate with one who is devoid of Sam bhâva (tranquillity), because his society will throw thee into the ocean of anxiety and will burn thy body through uneasiness.
238. Uttama Gunas (superior qualities) are destroyed by the company of evil persons; as owing to the association of iron, fire is also beaten by hammer.
239. Moha (illusion or infatuation) ought to be abandoned ; in no way is it desirable. The whole world is suffering from pain on account of Moha.
240. Those Munis (saints) who love savoury food and are averse to unsavoury dishes, are gluttons ; they do not know the Parmârtha (the Ideal).
241. The moth, the deer, the elephant, the beetle, and the fish being fascinated, respectively, by the colour of the candle's flame, the sweet song of the hunter, the agreeable sensations of touch, smell and taste, are destroyed. Notr.-In this Gâtâ the Acharya lays stress on the harmful nature of sense-gratification.
The moth is drawn to destruction by the flame, the deer by the song, and so forth. When the gratification of a single sense has such fatal consequences, what must be
the plight of man who seeks enjoyment through all the five senses ?
242. Give up covetousness; it is not desirable. The whole world is involved in misery on account of covetousness.
243. Being associated with iron, that is, by the covetousness for iron even fire may be said to attain to a miserable plight-it is put upon an anvil, is beaten from above with a hammer, is caught in the middle by pincers, a is torn to pieces (in the shape of sparks).
Note.-Covetousness here means desire or love for the not-self which causes painful bondage,
as in the case of fire. As the association with iron is the cause of suffering to fire, so is the association with the not-selt the source of pain to the self. This is one
of the most striking metaphors used by the Âchârya.
244. Give up attachment; it is of no good. All the pain in the three worlds is due to attachment.
245. On account of its love for oil sesamum has to bear much pain,-it is put under water, is trampled under foot and is repeatedly crushed in the oil-press. Note. This Gatha furnishes another illustration of the principle laid down before, and the lesson
taught by the Achârya is, that as love, i.e., attachment or desire, for the not-self is franght with pain and hardship, one should not allow it to deprive him of his Svâbhâvic bliss which is infinite, unabating and eternal.