________________
-745]
87. THE SECTION ON THB PALĀGA TRB
379
87. The Section on the Palāśa Tree 739) Oh Palāśa tree, your leaves were abandoned by birds even as you were putting forth your buds, for you at once dark-. ened your face in the spring season. (Hidden sense : a person.. growing day by day in his prosperity, is abandoned by supplicants, .. if they find that his face becomes glocmy (darkened) with anger, on his being entreated for charity or alms).
740) "Let alone the emergence of fruits; even on the day that it blossomed, it put on a darkened face''--thinking thus, the Palasa tree was at once forsaken by its leaves.
741) Oh Kimśuka (Palāša) tree, why was it that you were grinned at by the young maiden, on seeing your branches ? Or - rather, it is not your fault; who forsooth, is not deceived by the Palāśas (demons) ?
742) Although a miser may be raised to a lofty position because of his excessive wealth, the supplicants remain (as) destitute (as before). Say, even though the Palāśa tree puts forth: fruit, whose desires are fulfilled thereby (or who ever feels any desire for them)?
743) Oh Palāśa tree, it is true that you have blossomed and borne fruits in solitary (unfrequented) regions; but if your fruits were pleasant to eat, even in a slight measure, who could adjudge (assess) your real worth?
88. The Section on the Submarine Fire (Vadavānala)
744) Oh submarine file, you should reside (in the heart of the ocean), intent on drying up its moisture, so long as the ocean is not aware of it. But when the ocean clearly comes to know about it, then neither you, nor the surface of the world will fare well.
745) What emulation can (even) the best of Gods have with the submarine fire (literally: with one like the submarine fire)? For the submarine fire feeds on the ocean (i.e. consumes the water of the ocean as its fuel)-the ocean which checks (tames). the advance of fire (and extinguishes it).
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
