ĀTMĀNUŚĀSANA – PRECEPT ON THE SOUL by Ācārya GUṆABHADRA (ca. 818–900 A.D.) [258]
Gātha 257
The ascetic, through severe austerities, brings to premature fruition karmas that have already become subtle, like the tail of the cow that gets thin at the end [note 1]. What grief is there for the ascetic if karmas get to fruition on their own? What is the loss for the great warrior who is proceeding to wage a war against his foe [note 2] if the foe himself comes in front of him to fight the war?
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Note 2:
This foe is Antaraṅgāri (the six inner enemies):
1. rāga (infatuation, desire, lust, wanton) – the four kaṣāyas: 2. krodha (anger), 3. māna (conceit), 4. māyā (deceit), 5. lobha (greed) – 6. dveṣa (hate), cf.
‘Saṁvara [part 3608]’ https://www.facebook.com/groups/692614454130155/permalink/3222807027777539, and
‘Saṁvara [part 2000]’ note 1 https://www.facebook.com/groups/692614454130155/?post_id=1700179373373653&comment_id=1700180903373500.
Note 1:
The tail of the cow (which gets thinner at the end), is the allegory for the four kaṣāyas in the lowest, the gleaming called sañjvalanakaṣāya level, cf. Guṇadhara’s Kaṣāya-pāhuḍa, chapter 26, v. 177
‘Saṁvara [part 423]’ https://www.facebook.com/groups/692614454130155/permalink/950889798302618.