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"Yadi paapanirodho'anyasampadaa kim prayojanam? Atha paapaashravo'astyanya sampadaa kim prayojanam?”
Ratnakaranda shraavakaachaara', Verse 1.27 (Page 65, Author: Aachaarya Samantabhadra, Publisher: Muni Sangh Svaagata Samiti {sagar), Madhya Pradesh, year 1986)
If the inflow of demeritorious karmas has been stopped, of what use is any other wealth? But if the inflow of demeritorious karmas continues, of what use is any other wealth? One who has attained samyaktva knows that wealth earned through injustice, unfairness, dishonesty, etc. shall lead to rebirth in hell. This is because of the inflow and bondage of demeritorious karmas that was concomitant with the earning of the wealth. At times, owing to the annihilationcum-suppression of gain-obstructing karmas and enjoyment-obstructing karmas (both are part of antaraaya karma), one may attain material wealth, but he who has attained samyaktva realises that such wealth is dependent on other factors, is fleeting and the cause of great bondage and hence does not become attached to it. He remains indifferent to it. Thus, one who has samyaktva considers material wealth, which comes at the cost of the inflow and bondage of karmas, to be heya {worthy of giving up/avoiding as it will take him away from the path of liberation).
Attaining samyaktva is like attaining Chintaamani, the wish-fulfilling gem
Learned seers have compared samyaktva to the Chintaamani {wish-fulfilling gem), Kalpavriksha {wish-fulfilling tree) and Kaamadhenu {wish-fulfilling cow. Aachaarya Sakalakiirti has used all three similes to describe samyaktva:
“Samyaktvam yasya bhavyasya haste chintaamani bharvet. Kalapvriksho grihe tasya, kaamagavyaanugaaminii” ~Aachaarya Sakalakiirti, ‘Prashnottarashraavakaachaara’, verse 11.54
Samyagdharshana, Author: Ashokmuni, Publisher: Diwaakarjyoti Karyaalaya, Byaawar (Rajasthan), year 1981) For one who is capable of attaining liberation, attaining samyaktva is like attaining the chintaamani {wish-fulfilling gem. It is like having the kalpavriksha {wish-fulfilling tree growing in his backyard. Or like the kaamadhenu {wish-fulfilling cow) following him wherever he goes.
The Chintaamani is a fabled gem that fulfils all wishes. The Kalpavriksha is a special tree that fulfils all desires. The Kaamadhenu is a cow, which can be milked anytime. All three are extremely important and desirable and valuable from the material point of view. But from the spiritual viewpoint, they hold no value. Samyaktva contains the good qualities of all three together. Samyaktva is the spiritual gem. The soul itself is the Kalpavriksha and Kaamadhenu is the attainment of samyaktva. It accompanies the soul forever.
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