FIRST CHAPTER.

One should know what causes the bondage of Soul, and knowing (it) one should remove it.

(Gambusvamin asked Sudharman):

What causes the bondage (of Soul) according to Mahavira? and what must one know in order to remove it? (1)

(Sudharman answered):

He who owns even a small property in living or lifeless things , or consents to others holding it, will not be delivered from misery. (2)

If a man kills living beings, or causes other men to kill them, or consents to their killing them, his iniquity will go on increasing. (3)

A sinner who makes the interests of his kinsmen and companions his own, will suffer much; for the number of those whose interest he takes to heart constantly increases. (4)

All this, his wealth and his nearest relations, cannot protect him (from future misery); knowing (this) and (the value of) life, he will get rid of Karman. (5)

Some men , Sramanas and Brahmanas, who ignore and deny these true words , adhere (to their own tenets), and are given to pleasures. (6)

Some profess (the exclusive belief in) the five gross elements: earth, water, fire, wind, and air. (7)

'These five gross elements (are the original causes of things), from them arises another (thing, viz. atman) ; for on the dissolution of the (five elements) living beings cease to exist. (8)

'And as the Earth, though it is but one pile, presents many forms, so the intelligent (principle, viz. the atman) appears under various forms as the universe .' (9)

Thus say some fools. (But how can they explain on their theory that) the man engaging in undertakings, who has committed a sin, will himself suffer severe pain. ? (10)

'Everybody, fool or sage, has an individual soul. These souls exist (as long as the body), but after death they are no more; there are no souls which are born again. (11)

'There is neither virtue nor vice, there is no world beyond; on the dissolution of the body the individual ceases to be.' (12)

'When a man acts or causes another to act, it is not his soul (atman) which acts or causes to act .' Thus they (viz. the adherents of the Sankhya philosophy) boldly proclaim. (13)

How can those who hold such opinions explain (the variety of existence in) the world? They go from darkness to utter darkness, being fools and engaged in works. (14)

Some say that there are five elements and that

the soul is a sixth (substance), but they contend that the soul and the world (i.e. the five elements) are eternal. (15)

'These (six substances) do not perish neither (without nor with a cause); the non-existent does not come into existence, but all things are eternal by their very nature .' (16)