Prasamrati Prakarana

Author(s): Umaswati, Umaswami, Mahesh Bhogilal, V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Nita M Bhogilal & Others

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Praśamarati
good conduct - discipline, and wealth and glory. Hence, the pride of being born high should be given up.
84. He, whose Sīla (character-good conduct-discipline) is defective, what justification has he in being proud of his high birth? And he whose Sila is proper - he automatically shines out, in society. So what need has he of being proud of his high birth?
85. The beauty of a body is the result of male and female secretions (which in themselves are utterly filthy). Further, it constantly grows and ebbs during one's life cycle. It is also the abode of disease and old age. So there is no scope for taking pride in one's beauty.
86. The body looks somewhat beautiful because it is covered with flesh and skin, but it is full of filthy gutters such as those of excreta and urine. It needs constant looking after. It's nature, without doubt, is to perish (and then it is fit only for burning). Thus, what is the sense in taking pride in it ?
87 and 88. A strong person, in a very short space of time becomes a weakling (as a result of illness, accident, etc.) A weak man through appropriate remedies (such as medicine, foods, exercises, etc.) or through the destruction/suppression of the appropriate Karmas (here called Saṁskāra i.e. the Vīryāntara Karma becomes strong. Further, bodily strength cannot be sustained against the onslaught of Death. In this manner, one should, through intelligence and discrimination carefully and thoroughly comprehend the instable and impermanent nature of one's strength. Thus, he who is strong also should not take pride in it.
89. The fortunes of this world are found when the appropriate Karmas are suppressed/destroyed; while the fruition of the same Karmas leads to material poverty and misfortune. Thus neither fortune nor misfortune is definitive or ever-lasting. Understanding