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THE AFFLIOTIONS
subdue the afflictions. What are afflictions and for what purpose are they endured?
Afogaskere afceTT: offt: 1611 Margācyavananirjarārtham parişodhavyāḥ parişahāḥ (8) 8. The afflictions are to be endured so as not to swerve from the path of stoppage of karmas and for the sake of dissociation of karmas.
As stoppage is the subject under consideration, the path is qualified by stoppage - the path of stoppage. The afflictions are to be endured, so as not to swerve from the path of stoppage of karmas and for the shedding of karmas. Those who endure hunger, thirst, etc. do not swerve from the path taught by Jina and block the influx of karmas by practising the path aright. They also experience the fruits of maturing karmas, destroy these gradually and attain emancipation.
The afflictions are described in the next sutra. श्रुत्पिपासाशीतोष्णदेशमशकनाग्न्यारतिस्त्रीचर्यानिषद्याशय्याक्रोशवध
याचनाऽलाभरोगतृणस्पर्शमलसत्कारपुरस्कारप्रज्ञाशानादर्शनानि ॥ ९ ॥ Kșutpipāsāśitoşnadamsamaśakanāgnyāralistricaryānişadyaśayyākrośavadhayācanālābharogatīņasparśamalasatkārapuraskāraprajñājñānādarśanāni
(9) 9. Hunger, thirst, cold, heat, insect-bites, nakedness, absence of pleasures, women, pain arising from roaming, discomfort of postures, uncomfortable couch, scolding, injury, begging, lack of gain, illness, pain inflicted by blades of grass, dirt, reverence and honour (good as well as bad reception), (conceit of) learning, despair or uneasiness arising from ignorance and lack of faith (are the twenty-two hardships).
Hunger etc. are the twenty-two kinds of afflictions. These have to be endured by the ascetic striving after emancipation. The saint, who fails to obtain pure food or the required quantity of food, and whose torment of hunger is not dispelled, does not seek for food in improper places and at improper times. He does not tolerate neglect of his daily duties even to a small extent, and he is enthusiastic in study and meditation. He has himself practised and enabled others to practise
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