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THE WAY OF LIFE
mind and a sullied heart. Dharma does not abide in a heart which is thus polluted by sinful feelings.
LUST KNOWS NO SHAME
See what Manirath desired, "I will attain this woman in some way or another; by fair means or by foul means. I will get her and live with her. I can have no peace of mind without attaining her.” These were his thoughts. How mean he was in planning to ruin the happiness of his younger brother ? What a low and despicable mind he had to think of robbing the chastity of a noble lady! This is an injustice to life found in a body which is made up of inert pudgals. A poet has said :
Some are fair, some are black, some have beauteous
eyes and face. Man! See not those outward graces made of pudgals;
see the inward grace.
The beauty of an inert body is also inert since it is made of pudgals (substances). The attachment for beauty is but attachment for inert substances. That attachment causes harm or offence to the conscious soul. Manirath who became enamoured of the wife of his younger brother adopted an attitude of hostility towards him.
Manirath did not even have amity for his own kith and kin. Amity is of four kinds :
1. Amity for benefactors. 2. Amity for one's family. 3. Amity for relatives. 4. Amity for all living beings.
Yugabahu was a close relative of Manirath. Madanrekha was also a close relative (They were members of the same family). But how could Manirath who was blinded by infatuation, treat them with amity ? He displayed a strong affection for her. He began attracting Madanrekha towards himself. He got her many splendid garments and ornaments. Sometimes,
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