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198
THE SACRED BOOKS OF THE JAINAS.
Commentary.
Gathas 385 to 389 explain that one substance on being used by another cannot lose its essence and does not become another. Illustration is given of white paint which paints the wall, still it does not lose its paintness. Neither is the wall altered into paint nor paint is modified into the wall. Both retain their own respective natures. Similarly a soul conates and knows all knowables, gives up attachment for them or believes in them but neither the objects become the soul, nor the soul becomes the objects Soul remains the soul and the objects remain what they are. From real point of view knowledge, conation, belief and control are the soul's own attributes, which are inseparable from the soul.
जह परदव्वं सेटदि हु सेटिया अप्पणो सहावेण । - तह परदव्वं जाणदि णादावि सएण भावेण ॥ ३६० ॥
यथा परद्रव्यं सेटयति खलु सेटिकात्मनः स्वभावेन । तथा परद्रव्यं जानाति ज्ञातापि स्वकेन भावेन ॥ ३६०॥
390. As the chalk by its own whiteness whitens the other thing (i. e. the wall); so also the knower by its own nature knows the other substances.
जह परदव्यं सेटदि हु सेटिया अप्पणो सहावेण । तह परदव्वं पस्सदि जीवोवि सएण भावेण ॥ ३६१ ॥ यथा परद्रव्यं सेटयति खलु सेटिकात्मनः स्वभावेन | तथा परद्रव्यं पश्यति जीवोऽपि स्वकेन भावेन ॥ ३६१ ॥
391. As the chalk by its own nature whitens the other thing (the wall); so also the soul by its own nature conates the non-self objects.
जह परदव्वं सेटदिइ सेटिया अप्पणो सहावेण । तह परदव्वं विरमदिणादावि सएण भावेण ॥ ३६२॥ यथा परद्रव्यं सेटयति सेटिकात्मनः स्वभावेन । तथा परद्रव्यं विजहाति ज्ञातापि वकेन भावेन ॥ ३६२॥
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