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CHAPTER VIII
171
Even when he is well-versed in the Scriptures, is he still to be called an ajñāni ? The answer is given in the next gathā. मोक्खं असद्दहंतो अभवियसत्तो दु जो अधीएज्ज ।
पाठोण करेदिगुणं असद्दहंतस्स गाणं तु ॥ २७४॥ mokkham asaddahamto abhaviyasatto du jo adhiejja patho na karedi gunam asaddahamtassa ṇāņam tu (274) मोक्षम श्रद्दधानो ऽभव्य सत्त्वस्तु योऽधीयेत ।
पाठो न करोति गुणमश्रद्दधानस्य ज्ञानं तु ॥ २७४॥
274. An abhavya, one unfit for spiritual salvation, has no faith in mokşa, hence though well-versed in all the scriptures, such a study does not endow him with right knowledge or qualification because of the lack of faith.
COMMENTARY
The reality of mokşa is not believed in by the abhavya because he is devoid of the right knowledge of the pure nature of the Self. Therefore he has no belief even in knowledge. Thus devoid of right knowledge and right faith, his mastery of the scriptures cannot make him the real Knower and it does no good to him. Thus in spite of his learning, he remains devoid of knowledge.
Has he not by his observance of the rules of conduct, faith at least in dharma? The answer is given in the gathā below. सद्दहदि य पत्तेदि य रोचेदि य तह पुणो य फासेदि ।
धम्मं भोगणिमित्तं हु सो कम्मक्खयणिमित्तं ॥ २७५॥ saddahadi ya pattedi ya rocedi ya taha puno ya phasedi dhammam bhoganimittam nahu so kammakkhayanimittam (275) nzufa a gàfa a Ñaufà a amı gaza egafa | धर्मं भोगनिमित्तं न खलु स कर्मक्षयनिमित्तम् ॥ २७५॥
275. No doubt he has faith in (a kind of) dharma, he acquires it, he delights in it and practises it. But it is all with the object of future enjoyment. Certainly not (that dharma which leads to the) destruction of karmas.
Next mokşa marga, path of salvation is described from the vyavahāra and niscaya points of view, the former to be rejected and the latter to be adopted.
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