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MAHAVIRA'S OMNISCIENCE
womb and loins,142 reject such as you, oh! oh! Others, having decided on and having proclaimed some opinion resembling a flower in the sky, heroes at home, are not contained in the house nor in the body.143 The passion of love and the passion of affection are easily restrained. The passion of the eye, very evil, is hard to destroy even by the good. Saying, 'The face is tranquil; the eyes, indifferent; the speech friendly to the world,' they, certainly confused, are indifferent to you, the abode of kindness. Even if ever the wind should stand still, a mountain run, water burn, nevertheless, the one consumed by passion, et cetera is not suitable to become an Arhat."
After he had recited this hymn of praise, Bidaujas became silent. The Teacher of the World delivered a sermon in a speech similar to all dialects.
Sermon on saṁsāra (39-47)
Look you! The ocean of existence is boundless like a cruel sea; and the cause of that is karma and nothing else, see! like a seed of a tree. A creature devoid of discernment attains a low state of existence like a well-digger, by means of his karma created by himself only. A creature with a pure heart attains a high state of existence, like the builder of a palace, by his own karma alone. One should not destroy life, the cause of acquiring karma; one should be as intent on saving the lives of others as one's own life. A person should certainly not speak falsely, but should speak what is pleasant and true, avoiding pain to others like pain to one's self. One should not take property that has not been given, for it resembles an external breath of men. Actual murder would be committed by taking their property. One should not have sexual relations which cause the destruction of many souls. The wise man should practice continence only, the cause of emancipation.
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127
142 33. I.e., the organs of sense collectively, according to the Vs. com. 143 34. Cf. MW, s.v. gehe, the two habitations,' the house and the body. The com. to the Vs. takes geha to be svadarśana.'
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