________________
ŚRĪ DHARMANĀTHACARITRA
151
Anger (229-254) Of these, anger causes pain, anger is the cause of hostility, anger is the path to an evil birth, anger is a bar to tranquillity and happiness. First, when it is produced, anger burns its own abode, like a fire. Afterwards, it does or does not burn other things. Penance acquired by a crore of pūrvas less eight years is consumed immediately by the fire of anger. Water in the form of tranquillity, collected by many meritorious acts, instantly becomes unfit for use from contact with the poison of anger. The smoke of anger, streaming forth, blackens deeply the bright pattern of good-conduct which possesses variegated threads of the virtues. The juice of tranquillity which is caught with a cup made from the sami-leaf of asceticism, why is it spilled by anger which resembles a cup made from a vegetableleaf ? 203 When this anger increases, what does it not do that should not be done? Dvārakā is future fuel for the fire of Dvaipāyana's anger.204 Whatever accomplishment there may be on the part of an angry person does not have anger as its cause, but is the result of strong karma acquired in another birth. Alas! Alas! People produce anger in their bodies for the ruin of themselves in both worlds and for the destruction of their own and others' purposes. Look! Blind with anger, pitiless, they strike down father, mother, teacher, friend, brother, wives, and even themselves. Therefore, forbearance alone, the water-channel in the garden of self-control, must be resorted to by the pure-souled for the quick extinction of the fire of anger.
208 234. Obviously, one cup is made from a leaf that could be made to hold liquid and one from a leaf that could not; but I have not been able to ascertain the real point to the comparison.
204 235. See B., p. 80 and Jacobi, ZDMG 42, pp. 493 ff. The ascetic Dvaipāyana was beaten by some drunken princes of Dvārakā and vowed revenge. In his next birth he was an Agnikumāra and burned Dvärakā and all its inhabitants except Krsna and Balarama. After Dvārakā was burned, it was covered by the ocean.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
