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ŚRĪ DHARMANĀTHACARITRA
159
present in themselves. In proportion as the cavity of greed begins to be filled, it increases constantly, a very strange thing! It is possible that the ocean can be filled with water, forsooth, but greed is not satisfied, even though the sovereignty of the three worlds has been attained. Endless heaps of food, clothes, sense-objects, and money have been enjoyed. Nevertheless, not a particle of greed is satisfied. If greed has been abandoned, then enough of unnecessary penance; if greed has not been abandoned, then enough of useless penance. Pressing out the wealth of the śāstras, let this be understood. A wise man should strive preeminently for the elimination of greed.
Contentment (331-348)
A wise man should restrain the ocean of greed, overflowing, exceeding bounds, spreading out, by the dike of contentment.220 Just as a cakravartin is first of men and Pakaśāsana first of gods, so contentment is the best of all qualities. I think the degree of pleasure in a contented ascetic and the degree of pain in a discontented cakrin are equal. After renouncing their own kingdoms from thirst for the nectar of contentment, cakravartins instantly attain freedom from interest. When the desire for money has been checked, wealth is only an attendant. When the ear is covered with the finger, nothing but sound spreads. Those who are satisfied in the accomplishment of contentment are disgusted with counterparts. In the covering of the eyes, the whole movable and immovable universe is covered. What is the use of subduing the senses? What is the use of injuring the body? Verily, just from contentment, one sees the face of the Śrī of emancipation. People who have the happiness of being free from greed are
220 331. In the case of the other kaṣāyas: krodha, māna, and māya, the respective opposites: kṣānti, mārdava, and ārjava, belong to the yatidharmas. Santoșa (content) takes the place of mukti-nirlobhatā. See I, n. 38.
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