First lesson.
051
Quality is the seat of the root,
and the seat of the root is quality. He who longs for the
qualities, is overcome by great pain, and he is careless. (For
he thinks) I have to provide for a mother, for a father, for a-
sister, for a wife, for sons, for daughters, for a
daughter-in-law, for my friends, for near and remote relations,
for my acquaintances, for different kinds of property, profit,
meals, and clothes. Longing for these objects, people are
careless, suffer day and night, work in the right and the wrong
time, desire wealth and treasures, commit injuries and violent
acts, direct the mind, again and again, upon these injurious
doings (described in the preceding lecture).
052
(Doing so), the life of some mortals (which by destiny would
have been long) is shortened. For when with the deterioration of
the perceptions of the ear, eye, organs of smelling, tasting,
touching, a man becomes aware of the decline of life, they after
a time produce dotage. Or his kinsmen with whom he lives
together will, after a time, first grumble at him, and he will
afterwards grumble at them. They cannot help thee or protect
thee, nor canst thou help them or protect them.
053
A man who carelessly conducts himself, who killing, cutting,
striking, destroying, chasing away, frightening (living beings)
resolves to do what has not been done (by any one)-him his
relations with whom he lived together, will first cherish, and
he will afterwards cherish them. But they cannot help thee or
protect thee, nor canst thou help them or. protect them.
054
Or he heaps up treasures for the benefit of some spendthrifts,
by pinching himself. Then, after a time, he falls in sickness;
those with whom he lives together will first leave him, and he
will afterwards leave them. They cannot help thee or protect
thee, nor canst thou help them or protect them.
055
Knowing pain and pleasure in all their variety, and seeing his
life not yet decline, a wise man should know that to be the
proper moment (for entering a religious life); while the
perceptions of his ear, eye, organs of smelling, tasting,
touching are not yet deteriorated, while all these perceptions
are not yet deteriorated, man should prosecute the real end of
his Soul. Thus I say.
Second lesson.
056
A wise man should remove any aversion (to control); he will be
liberated in the proper time. Some, following wrong instruction,
turn away (from control). They are dull, wrapped in delusion.
While they imitate the life of monks, (saying), 'We shall be
free from attachment,' they enjoy the pleasures that offer
themselves. Through wrong instruction the (would-be) sages
trouble themselves (for pleasures); thus they sink deeper and
deeper in delusion, (and cannot get) to this, nor to the
opposite shore. Those who are freed (from attachment to the
world and its pleasures), reach the opposite shore. Subduing
desire by desirelessness, he does not enjoy the pleasures that
offer themselves. Desireless, giving tip the world, and ceasing
to act, he knows, and sees, and has no wishes because of his
discernment'; he is called houseless.
057
(But on the contrary) he suffers day and night, works in the
right and the wrong time, desires wealth and treasures, commits
injuries and violent acts, again and again directs his mind upon
these injurious doings; for his own sake, to support or to be
supported by his relations, friends, the ancestors, gods, the
king, thieves, guests, paupers, Sramanas.
058
Thus violence is done by these various acts, deliberately, out
of fear, because they think 'it is for the expiation of sins,'
or for some other hope. Knowing this, a wise man should neither
himself commit violence by such acts, nor order others to commit
violence by such acts, nor consent to the violence done by
somebody else.
059
This road (to happiness) has been declared by the noble ones,
that a clever man should not be defiled (by sin). Thus I say.
Third lesson.
060
'Frequently (I have been born) in a high family, frequently in a
low one; I am not mean, nor noble, nor do I desire (social
preferment).' Thus reflecting, who would brag about his family
or about his glory, or for what should he long?
061
Therefore a wise man should neither be glad nor angry (about his
lot): thou shouldst know and consider the happiness of living
creatures. Carefully conducting himself, he should mind this:
blindness, deafness, dumbness, one-eyedness, hunchbackedness,
blackness, variety of colour (he will always experience);
because of his carelessness he is born in man), births, he
experiences various feelings.
062
Not enlightened (about the cause of these ills) he is afflicted
(by them), always turns round (in the whirl of) birth and death.
Life is dear to many who own fields and houses. Having acquired
dyed and coloured (clothes), jewels, earrings, gold, and women,
they become attached to these things. And a fool who longs for
life, and worldly-minded, laments that (for these worldly goods)
penance, self-restraint, and control do not avail, will
ignorantly come to grief.
063
Those who are of a steady conduct do not desire this (wealth).
Knowing birth and death, one should firmly walk the path (i.e.
right conduct), (and not wait for old age to commence a
religious life),
064
For there is nothing inaccessible for death. All beings are fond
of life, like pleasure, hate pain, shun destruction, like life,
long to live. To all life is dear.
065
Having acquired it (i.e. wealth), employing bipeds and
quadrupeds, gathering riches in the three ways [by action, order
or consent, that is, mind, body or speech] whatever his portion
will be, small or great, he will desire to enjoy it. Then at one
time, his manifold savings are a large treasure. Then at another
time, his heirs divide it, or those who are without a living
steal it, or the king takes it away, or it is ruined in some way
or other, or it is consumed by the conflagration of the house.
Thus a fool doing cruel deeds which benefit another, will
ignorantly come thereby to grief.
066
This certainly has been declared by the sage. They, do not cross
the flood, nor can they cross it; they do not go to the next
shore, nor can they go to it; they do not go to the opposite
shore, nor can they go to it.
067
And though hearing the doctrine, he does not stand in the right
place; but the clever one who adopts the true (faith); stands in
the right place (i.e. control).
068
He who sees by himself, needs no instruction, But the miserable,
afflicted fool who delights in pleasures, and whose miseries do
not cease, is turned round in the whirl of pains. Thus I say.
Fourth lesson.
069
Then, after a time, he falls in sickness: those with whom he
lives together, first grumble at him, and he afterwards grumbles
at them. But they cannot help thee or protect thee, nor canst
thou help them or protect them.
070
Knowing pleasure and pain separately, they trouble themselves
about the enjoyment (of the external objects). For some men in
this world have (such a character that) they will desire to
enjoy their portion, whether it be large or small, in the three
ways. Then, at one time, it will be sufficiently large, with
many resources. Then, at another time, his heirs divide it, or
those who have no living steal it, or the king takes it away, or
it is ruined in some way or other, or it is consumed by the
conflagration of the house. Thus a fool, doing cruel acts, comes
ignorantly to grief.
071
Wisely reject hope and desire, and extracting that thorn (i.e.
pleasure) thou (shouldst act rightly). People who are enveloped
by delusion do not understand this: he who (gathers wealth)
will, perhaps, not have the benefit of it.
072
The world is greatly troubled by women. They (viz. men) forsooth
say, 'These are the vessels (of happiness).' But this leads them
to pain, to delusion, to death, to hell, to birth as hell-beings
or brute beasts. The fool never knows the law.
073
Thus spake the hero: 'Be careful against this great delusion;
the clever one should have done with carelessness by considering
death in tranquillity, and that, the nature of which is decay
(viz. the body); these (pleasures), look ! will not satisfy
(thee). Therefore have done with them! Sage, look! this is the
great danger, it should overcome none whomsoever. He is called a
hero who is not vexed by (the hardships caused) by control. He
should not be angry because the (householder) gives him little.
If turned off, he should go. Thou shouldst conform to the
conduct of the sages.' Thus I say.
Fifth lesson.
074
That for this (viz. pleasure) the wants of the world should be
supplied by bad injurious doings: for one's own sons, daughters,
daughters-in-law, kinsmen, nurses, kings, male and female
slaves, male and female servants, for the sake of hospitality,
of supper and breakfast, the accumulation of wealth is effected.
075
(This is) here for the enjoyment of some men. (But a wise man)
exerting himself, houseless, noble, of noble intellect, of noble
perception recognises the proper moment (for all actions). He
should not accept, nor cause others to accept, or permit them to
accept anything unclean. Free from uncleanliness he should
wander about.
076
Being not seen in buying and selling, he should not buy, nor
cause others to buy, nor consent to the buying of others. This
mendicant who knows the time, the strength (of himself), the
measure (of all things), the practice, the occasion (for
begging), the conduct, the religious precepts, the true
condition (of the donor or hearer), who disowns all things not
requisite for religious purposes, who is under no obligations,
he proceeds securely (on the road to final liberation) after
having cut off both (love and hate). Clothes, alms-bowls,
blankets, brooms, property, straw mats, with regard to these
things he should know (what is unclean). When he receives food
he should know the quantity required. This has been declared by
the Revered One: he should not rejoice in the receipt of a gift,
nor be sorry when he gets nothing. Having got much, one should
not store it away; one should abstain from things not requisite
for religious purposes. With a mind different (from that of
common people) a seer abandons (these things). This is the road
taught by the noble ones, well acquainted with which one should
not be defiled (by sin). Thus I say.
077
Pleasures are difficult to reject, life is difficult to prolong.
That man, certainly, who loves pleasures, is afflicted (by their
loss), is sorry in his heart, leaves his usual ways, is
troubled, suffers pain. The farsighted one who knows the world,
knows its inferior part (hell), its upper part (heaven), its
side-long part (the state of brute beasts). He who knows the
relation (of human affairs, viz.) that he who desires for the
world is always turned round (in the samsara), is called among
mortals a hero, who liberates those who are fettered.
078
As the interior (of the body is loathsome), so is the exterior;
as the exterior, so is the interior. In the interior of the body
he perceives the foul interior humours, he observes their
several courses (or eruptions). A well-informed man knowing (and
renouncing the body and pleasures), should not eat (his saliva);
he should not oppose himself to the (current of knowledge).
Certainly, that man who engages in worldly affairs, who
practises many tricks, who is bewildered by his own doings, acts
again and. again on that desire which increases his
unrighteousness Hence the above has been said for the increase
of this (life). (A man addicted to pleasures) acts as if
immortal, and puts great faith (in pleasure); but when he
perceives that this body sustains pains, he cries in his
ignorance. Therefore keep in your mind what I say.
079
A heretic professes to cure (the love of pleasure), while he
kills, cuts, strikes, destroys, chases away, resolves to do what
has not been done before. To whom he applies the cure-enough of
that fool's affection; or he who has (the cure) applied, is a
fool. This does not apply to the houseless. Thus I say.
Sixth lesson.
080
He who perfectly understands (what has been said in the
preceding lesson) and follows the (faith to be coveted, should
therefore do no sinful act, nor cause others to do one.
Perchance he meditates a sin (by an act against only) one (of
the six aggregates of lives); but he will be guilty (of sin
against) every one of the six. Desiring happiness and bewailing
much, he comes ignorantly to grief through his own misfortune. (i)
Through his own carelessness every one produces that phase of
life in which the vital spirits are pained. Observing (the pain
of mundane existence, one should) not (act) with violence. This
is called the true knowledge (and renunciation). He who ceasing
from acts relinquishes the idea of property, relinquishes
property itself. That sage has seen the path,(to final
liberation) for ' whom there exists no property. Knowing this, a
wise man, who knows the world and has cast off the idea of the
world, should prudently conquer the obstructions to
righteousness. Thus I say.
081
The hero does not tolerate discontent,
082
The hero does not tolerate lust.
083
Because the hero is not careless,
084
The hero is not attached (to the objects of the senses).
085
Being indifferent against sounds (and the other) perceptions,
detest the comfort of this life.
086
A sage adopting a life of wisdom, should treat his gross body
roughly.
087
The heroes who have right intuition, use mean and rough food.
088
Such a man is said to have crossed the flood (of life), to be a
sage, to have passed over (the samsara), to be liberated, to
have ceased (from all activity). Thus I say.
089
A sage is called unfit who does not follow the law and fails in
his office. (But on the contrary) he is praised as a hero, he
overcomes the connection with the world, he is called the guide
(or the right way). What has been declared to be here the
unhappiness of mortals, of that unhappiness the clever ones
propound the knowledge.
090
Thus understanding (and renouncing) acts, a man who recognises
the truth, delights in nothing else; and he who delights only in
the truth, recognises nothing else. As (the law) has been
revealed for the full one, so for the empty one; as for the
empty one, so for the full one. But he (to whom the faith is
preached) will perhaps disrespectfully beat (the preacher). Yet
know, there is no good in this (indiscriminate preaching). (But
ascertain before) what sort of man he is, and whom he worships.
He is called a hero who liberates the bound, above, below, and
in the sideward directions. He always conforms to all knowledge
(and renunciation); the hero is not polluted by the sin of
killing. he is a wise man who perfectly knows the non-killing,
who searches after the liberation of the bound. The clever one
is neither bound nor liberated; he should do or leave undone
(what the hero does or does not do); he should not do what (the
hero) leaves undone:
091
Knowing (and renouncing) murder of any kind and worldly ideas in
all respects.
092
He who sees himself, needs no instruction. But the miserable and
afflicted fool who delights in pleasures and whose miseries do
not cease, is turned round in the whirl of pains . Thus I say.
093
End of the Second Lecture, called Conquest of the World. |