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UTTARADHYAYANA SUTRA (UTTARAJJHAYAŅA SŪYA)
143
of religious men, Oh monk! You enjoy pleasures with your friends and relations, for it is a rare chance to be born as a human being.' The ascetic said, “You yourself are without à protector, Oh king! As you are without a protector, how can you protect anybody else?' The king said, 'I have horses, elephants, and subjects, a town and a seraglio, power and command. In possession of so great means which permit the owner to enjoy all pleasures how could he be without protection ? Revered Sir, you speak untruth.' The ascetic said, 'Oh king, you do not know the meaning and origin of the word, “without protection". Hear with an undistracted mind in what way a man can be said to be without protection. In the town of Kausāmbi my rich father lived. In my childhood I caught a very bad eye-disease and a severe burning fever in all my limbs, 1 suffered dreadfully. The best physicians came to my help but in vain. They could not rid me of my pains. Hence I say that I am without protection. My father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters and my loving and faithful wife could not rid me of my pains. At last I succeeded in getting rid of my pains by becoming a homeless monk. My own self is the doer and undoer of misery and happiness. Oh king, many men after having adopted the Law of the Jinas go astray. If an ordained monk through carelessness does not strictly keep the vows but desires pleasures, his fetters will not be completely cut ofl. He who is careless with regard to the vows and neglects penance and self-control wili not be a winner in the battle of life. He, who has the character of i sinner and who does not control himself, will come to grief for a long time. He who practises divination from bodily marks, who is well versed in augury, superstitions and rites, who gains a sinful living by practising magic tricks, will have no refuge at the time of retribution. A sinner goes from darkness to darkness to utter misery. An unholy man who breaks the monastic rules rushes to hell. He who accepts forbidden alms will go to hell. In vain he adopts nakedness, who errs about matters of peramount interest, neither this world nor the next will be his. Thus a self-willed sinner who is desirous of pleasures will grieve. He who possesses virtuous conduct and life, who has practised the best self-control, who is free from sins and who has destroyed his kurmt, will obtain inukti or salvation.' Thus the ascetic preached at length this great sermon. The king fully realized that he was without protection and spoke thus: 'Oh great sage, you have made the best use of human birth. You have made a true gain, you are a protector of mankind, for you have enterod the path of the
