THIRD CHAPTER.

If a monk should eat forbidden food which a pious (layman) has prepared for some guest, and which food has been mixed up with even thousand (times more

pure food) , he would be neither monk nor layman. (1)

Sramanas who do not comprehend this and do not know what is dangerous, who care for the pleasures of the moment only, will suffer death an endless number of times, like big fishes who when the water rises are by the water (deposited) on dry land and are killed (there), poor things, by hungry dhankas and herons. (2-4)

We hear also of another error of some (philosophers): some say that the world has been created (or is governed) by the gods, others, by Brahman. (5) Some say that it has been created by the Isvara, others that it was produced from chaos, &c., this world with living beings and lifeless things, with its variety of pleasure and pain. (6)

The great Rishi said, that the world has been created by Svayambhu; Mara originated Maya, therefore the world (appears to be) uneternal. (7)

Some Brahmanas and Sramanas say that the

universe was produced from the (primeval) egg, and He (Brahman) created the things. These ignorant men speak untruth. (8)

Those who on arguments of their own maintain that the world has been created, do not know the truth. Nor will (the world) ever perish. (9)

Know that misery arises from wicked deeds . How can those who do not know the origin (of misery) know its prevention? (10)

Some say that the soul (of him who is) pure will become free from bad Karman (on reaching beatitude), but that in that state it will again become defiled through pleasant excitement or hate. (11)

(According to them ) he who has lived on earth as a restrained monk, will afterwards become free from Karman. As clear water which was free from defilement becomes again defiled, so (will be the soul). (12)

A wise man should consider that these (heretics) do not lead a life of chastity, and that all these disputants proclaim their own creed in opposition (to the others). (13)

(Others maintain that) perfection can only be reached by their method of religious life, not otherwise; and that even before (that time) they have

their senses under control and possess everything to be wished for . (14)

Some say that they will be perfected and sound.

On the head of Perfection some men are infatuated with their own doctrines. (15)

But these uncontrolled (men) will whirl round in the beginningless (Circle of Births); after a Kalpa they will rise from their sphere to become the lowest of Asuras . (16)

Thus I say.

Footnotes

^244:1 This might also be translated: 'though the food passes through the hands of a thousand men before he accepts it.'