Rajgeeta English Translation and Comentry on Atmasiddhi Shastra

Author(s): Shrimad Rajchandra, Manu Doshi
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Mission

Page 85

Characteristics of Truth Seekers
to that goal; anything that does not lead to the well being of soul needs to be treated as a disease. As we stay away from the disease, the truth seeker would avoid all the worldly aspects; he does not get inclined towards any of them.
કષાયની ઉપશાંતતા, માત્ર મોક્ષ અભિલાષ; ભવે ખેદ, પ્રાણીદયા, ત્યાં આત્માર્થ નિવાસ.
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Kashäyani Upashäntatä, Matra Moksha Abhilash;
Bhave Khed, Pränidayä, Tyän Ätmärtha Niväs.
138||
SeSSeSSeSSeSSeSSeSSeSSeSeeeeeeee
The state of truth-seeking arises when defiling instincts are calmed down, liberation remains the only aspiration, there prevails disaffection for the life cycle, and there is compassion for all living beings. (38)
Explanation & Discussion: The scriptures specify following five factors as the requisites for truth seekers: (1) Sham (Calming down or pacification of defilements), (2) Samveg (Aspiring exclusively for liberation), (3) Nirved (Disaffection for worldly life), (4) Anukampä (Compassion), and (5) Ästhä (Faith). Of these, first four are specified in this stanza as the characteristics of a truth seeker. The fifth is not mentioned, because it is implicit in first four. Let us consider those four factors at some length.
Sham: Anger, ego, deceit, and greed are the four main types of defilement that keep the worldly soul bound to the cycle of birth and death. In Jain terminology they are known as Kashäys. The spiritual pursuit mainly consists of overcoming these Kashäys. It is, of course, not easy to do so, because the worldly soul has been used to indulge in
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