Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 57

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attachment to evil, having evil conduct like a cat, will be born in the Mleccha-birth-nuclei. Creatures, devoid of dharma, are born in many births in the nuclei of cats, vicious elephants, tigers, hawks, vultures, etc. Those people lacking in dharma frequently become worms in manure, etc., and are crushed by the bills and feet of cocks, etc. Men devoid of dharma are tormented in hell by demons 68 with anger as if from enmity. Oh, alas for creatures without dharma who are like balls of tin in the flame of excitement of endless sin. From dharma one obtains protection as from a best friend; one crosses the water of calamity by dharma as if by a boat. Men devoted to the acquisition of dharma are like crestjewels of men, and are surrounded by wealth like trees by creepers. Pain, disease, calamity, etc.-everything that is the cause of distress is extinguished by dharma like a fire by water. Dharma alone has strength equal to any work, a bail for the acquisition of the wealth of complete happiness in the next birth. What else is to be said ? O Master, by very powerful dharma alone people attain emancipation like the top of a palace by a ladder. Only by dharma have you attained the lordship over the Vidyādharas. Henceforth rely only on dharma for the highest gain.”
Exposition of the Cārvāka system (Materialist) (325-45).
Then Sambhinnamati, like the night before the new moon 5, a heap of darkness of exceeding wrong belief,
68 316. Paramādbārmika. These are demons engaged in torturing souls in hell. There are 15 divisions of them. They are given in detail in Sam, 15, p. 29 f. See also com. to T. 3. 5. and to Uttar. 31. 12.
69 324. Darśarātri, i.e., amāvasi. I translate this way rather than the night of the new moon' of the Lexs., because it is the night before the new moon is visible, and in the Hindu calendar is the last night of the dark fortnight, not the first of the bright fortnight.