to practise the (true) Law, follow the false Law and do not arrive at the thoroughly right (thing, viz. self-control). (20)

Thus some (wrong philosophers) do not apply to others for arguments, but they continue to err because they believe their own arguments to be right . (21)

Thus arguing according to their light, and ignorant about what is right and wrong, they do not get out of misery as birds do not get out of their cage. (22)

They praise their own creed and blame that of their opponents, but those who act in this respect the part of philosophers, will be kept confined in the Circle of Births . (23)

There is the doctrine of the Kriyavadins , which has been previously explained; it augments the misery of worldly existence of those who do not well consider the nature of acts. (24)

'He who intends (to kill) a living being but does not do it by (an act of) his body, and he who unknowingly kills one, both are affected by that act through a slight contact (with it) only, but the demerit (in their case) is not fully developed .' (25)

'There are three ways of committing sins: by one's own activity, by commission, by approval (of the deed). (26)

'These are the three ways of committing sins. Thus by purity of the heart one reaches Nirvana. (27)

'A layman may kill his son (during a famine) and eat him; a wise (monk) who partakes of the meat, will not be defiled by the sin .' (28)

The mind of those who sin in thoughts is not pure; they are wrong, they do not conduct themselves carefully . (29)

Men attached to pleasure, who think that the above-mentioned doctrines will save them, commit sins. (30)

As a blind-born man getting into a leaky boat, wants to reach the shore, but is drowned during the passage , so some unworthy, heretical Sramanas wish to get beyond the Circle of Births, but they are whirled round in it. (31, 32)

Thus I say.

Footnotes

^239:2 They are the fatalists whose peculiar opinions are stated in verses 2 and 3.

^239:3 Sehiyam = saiddhikam, i.e. mokshe bhavam sukham. Another explanation of the commentator makes saiddhika those pleasures which depend on external causes, as wreaths, sandal, &c., and asaiddhika the pleasures of the mind.

^240:1 To render niyataniyatam.

^240:2 Pasattha, usually translated parsvastha 'outsider,' those who do not acknowledge true arguments; another rendering is pasastha 'held in bondage.'

^240:3 Dehati = pasyati. The form dekkhati occurs in the Prakrit of plays.

^241:1 Savvappaga = sarvatmaka, lobha.

^241:2 Viukkassa = vyutkarsha, mana.

^241:3 Numa = maya.

^241:4 Appattiya = krodha.

^241:5 It is worthy of note that the Mlekkhas here are represented as not understanding the language of the Aryas.