Prakrit Prose and Verse

Author(s): Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Apbhramsa Sahitya Academy

Page 30

Lesson - 2
Samaņasuttam
1.
Just as in the plantain tree there is anywhere no substance (stem to be seen) in spite of its being searched well, so also there is no (experience of) happiness in sensuous objects even if it has been investigated thoroughly.
Just as an itchy (person) scratching his own itch regards that suffering (caused by itching) as pleasure, so also the persons possessed by attachment consider suffering caused by desire to be pleasure.
3.
(When men) choose the Karma (action for Karmic bondage) (they) are free; but in the rise of that (bound) Karma, (they) become dependent, (as when a person) climbs a tree, he is free; (but when) he falls from it, he becomes dependent (choiceless).
4.
(Somewhere) the Jivas are certainly subject to Karmas (psycho-physical impurities) and somewhere Karmas are certainly subject to Jivas; (as) somewhere the money-lender is powerful (and) somewhere the debtor is powerful.
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