Saman suttam

Author(s): Jinendra Varni
Publisher: Sarva Seva Sangh Prakashan

Page 53

SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION
25 (64-65) In brief, the Karmas are of eight kinds: (1) Jñanavaraniya (knowledge obscuring), (2) Darśanavaraņiaya (Apprehension obscuring), (3) Vedaniya (feeling producing), (4) Mohanīya (causing delusion), (5) Ayu (determining the life-span), (6) Nāma (physique-determining), (7) Gotra (status determining) and (8) Antarāya (obscuring the power of self).
(66) The nature of these eight karmas resembles respectively a curtain, a door-keeper, a sword, wine, wooden fetters, a painter, a potter and a treasurer.
Explanation: This verse explains the nature of the eight kamas thus: (1) The knowledge-obscuring karma, is like a curtain which
prevents a person from knowing what is inside a room; (2) The darśanavaraniya karma prevents a person from
apprehension like a door-keeper who prevents one from
seeing a dignitary; (3) Vedaniya karma is the cause of pleasure and pain like a
sword smeared with honey which while licking becomes the cause of pleasure due to honey and pain as there is
chance of an injury to the tongue; (4) Mohaniya karma causes delusion as does wine; (5) The Āyu karma keeps the soul tied down to a body, just
as the wooden-fetters on legs keep the person tied down
to a place until they are renoved; (6) Nama-karına cause the soul to enter different kinds of
bodies, just as a painter paints different pictures; (7) Gorra-karma is responsible for birth in high or low
families just as a potter prepares small or big pots; (8) The Antarāya karma prevents a person from doing good
deeds just as treasurer prevents his master from making gifts and donations.