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CHAPTER FIVE villages, money, et cetera ? It could desert one brilliant with virtues; it could resort to a wicked person. Power, like a woman of evil conduct, is not a source of pride on the part of the discerning.
Even a very strong person is made weak in a moment by disease, et cetera. Verily, pride in strength in regard to such transient strength is not suitable for men. If the strong are weak in old age, in death, in other results of karma, then, indeed, their pride in strength is useless.
Who would show pride in beauty which increases and decreases in the body consisting of seven elements, 208 having the nature of old age, disease, et cetera? After hearing of the future beauty of Sanatkumāra 209 and its destruction, who with ears would be proud of beauty, even in sleep?
After hearing of the perfection of penance of Nābheya and the Jina Vīra, who pray would resort to pride in his own slight penance? The heap of karma grows by the very same penance, if contaminated by pride, by which the heap of karma would break quickly.
After sniffing at the śāstras made by others from their own knowledge for amusement, proud at the thought, 'I am omniscient,' he devours his own scriptures. When he has heard of the boundless memory of the holy chiefgañadharas, 210 who with ears and a heart would feel pride in learning ?
Humility (272–280) The tree of conceit which makes the branch of faults grow, bending down the roots of the virtues, must be rooted up by the floods of the river of humility. Humility, called mārdava, wards off arrogance; furthermore, arrogance is the very form of conceit, not supernumerary. Wherever
208 267. See I, n. 74. 209 268. See below, Chapter Seven.
210 272. That is, the early ganadharas knew all the scriptures by heart.
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