TEN UNIVERSAL VIRTUES  十大美德 

4 SUPREME CONTENTMENT OR PURITY

至上的满足或纯洁

(Uttama Shaucha Dharma)

 

'Contentment is Happiness.'

   满足就是快乐

 

The word 'Shauch' is a compound word derived by adding the suffix 'anr' with the word 'shuchi' to mean 'shucherbhav shauchanam'. It means sacredness, cleanliness, to be pure, to be clean, to be spotless and to be non-greedy.

'Shauch'一词是个复合词，它是由后缀'anr'和词根'shuchi'组成的，它的意思是'shucherbhav shauchanam'。它的意思是庄严、洁净、纯洁、无暇以及不贪婪。

 

The humanitarian approach to lessen the miseries of living beings is included in the abstention from greed of worldly possessions. Contentment aims at putting a limit on the worldly possessions by individuals according to their needs and desires.

人道主义者通过控制贪婪的欲望来减轻生灵的痛苦。满足就是指人类的个体根据自己的需要和欲望来限制自己对外物占有的欲望。

 

Stating the characteristics of the virtue of supreme contentment in 'Sarvartha Siddhi’, Acharya Pujya Pad Swamy writes: 'lobhprkaranramuparam shaucham'-To discard different types of greed is contentment.

Kankhabhavnrivitim kicha veragbhavnrajutoJo vatdi parammunri tas du dhamo havai saucham

在'Sarvartha Siddhi’一书中，Acharya Pujya Pad Swamy这样来描述至上的满足的特点—'lobhprkaranramuparam shaucham'，放弃各种各样的贪婪就是满足。

Kankhabhavnrivitim kicha veragbhavnrajutoJo vatdi parammunri tas du dhamo havai saucham

 

The Supreme saint who conducts himself suppressing all desires and possesses the thoughts of renunciation is endowed with the virtue of contentment. In 'Bhagwati Aradhana' the erudite Acharya Shivery expresses his invaluable thoughts:

'Dravayshu mamaidam bhavmulo vyasanopanipat sakal iti tat parityago laghvam'.

能够抑制自己所有的欲望并且具有解脱的思想的至上的神具有满足的美德。在'Bhagwati Aradhana'一书中，博学的Acharya Shivery这样来描述他的思想：

'Dravayshu mamaidam bhavmulo vyasanopanipat sakal iti tat parityago laghvam'.

 

Such ambitious thoughts as 'objects like riches and wife belong to me' lead a man to numerous troubles. To do away with this feeling of attachment for worldly objects from heart is abstention or contentment. To be too greedy is disastrous. The soul becomes impure due to greed.

这种野心勃勃的想法—财富与妻子都是属于我的，会给人们带来很多麻烦。能够让人们远离这种对世俗事物的眷恋的只有节制或者满足。过于贪婪是灾难性的，由于贪婪，灵魂变得不再纯洁。

 

Once a Seth (a wealthy man) had been pondering for long that he would feed a Brahman at his home, if he could find one who ate a little food. Although the Seth was master of great property and was very wealthy, yet due to being extremely greedy and a miser of the meanest nature he went on searching for such a Brahman. As the Seth was known for harnessing such narrow ideas, the villagers knew very well that the Seth was greedy to the core of his heart.

有一次，Seth（一个富有的人）思考了很长时间，如果他能够找到一个只吃很少食物的婆罗门的话，他就在家里供养一个婆罗门，由于他过于贪心、吝啬，他就开始去寻找这样的婆罗门。由于Seth一直受到这样一种想法的束缚，人们就非常了解他内心的贪婪。

 

One day the Seth chanced to come in contact with a village Brahman. During discourse the Seth asked him, "How much do you eat?" The Brahman replied about an oz. at a time." Hearing this the Seth instantly invited the Brahman to take meals at his home the next day. The Seth said to him, "O Brahman! Tomorrow I shall go out of station to make some bargains. Come to my house and take meals." The Brahman said, "Very well! May you be prosperous! We always eat your food." Going home the Seth gave this information to his wife the Sethani; and instructed her saying, "I have extended invitation for tomorrow's meals to a Brahman. As tomorrow I shall go out for business transactions, give the Brahman to eat whatever he demands." In fact, the Seth was fully convinced that the diet of the Brahman was only one oz., why will he ask for more then?

一天，Seth恰巧碰到了一个婆罗门，他就问这个婆罗门：你每天吃多少食物？一次一盎司，婆罗门答道。听到这话，Seth马上就邀请这个婆罗门第二天到他家里作客。Seth对他说，婆罗门啊，明天到我家来吃饭吧。婆罗门答道，非常好，祝你发达，我们会经常去的。回到家里，Seth对他的妻子Sethani说了这件事情，并对他妻子说，我已经邀请婆罗门明天来我们家吃饭，但是明天我要出去做生意，你就让这个婆罗门尽管吃。实际上，Seth认为，这个婆罗门只能够吃一盎司的饭，不会吃掉太多。

 

The next day the Seth went away on his business tour. The Brahman came at his home in his absence and blessed the mistress of the house (Sethani). The lady was not greedy. She was a very generous, saintly, chaste and pious lady devoted to the Brahmans. She asked, "Well Panditji! Tell me, what are your requirements?" The Pandit said, "Five quintal wheat flour, one quintal butter, two quintal vegetables, one quintal sugar, five kg. Salt and two kg. Spices are my needs for home." The Sethani arranged everything according to the demands of holy Brahman. After all these food articles were dispatched to his home, the Brahman said to the Sethani, "Now hastily serve the food to me as my growing appetite is troubling me." The lady at once served the food and fed the Brahman to his fill. After taking food Panditji spoke, "O Gentle Lady! If I get one hundred guineas (gold coins) as my dinner gift, I shall bless you and return home." The lady willingly offered him one hundred guineas. Then the Brahman blessed her and left for home.

第二天，Seth出去做生意。婆罗门来的时候他已经出去了，这个婆罗门向女主人表达了祝福。Sethani并不是一个贪婪的人，她对婆罗门十分慷慨、圣洁、朴素、虔诚。她问道，Panditji，你想吃些什么？婆罗门答道，五担面粉，一担黄油，一担白糖，七公斤盐巴，我的家里还需要一些香料。Sethani满足了这个婆罗门所有的要求。当所有的这些食物送到了婆罗门家里之后，这个婆罗门对Sethani说，现在你马上把这些食物喂给我，我已经非常饿了。Sethani马上就把这些食物喂给了这个婆罗门，并一直把他喂饱。这时，这个婆罗门说，这位慷慨的主妇啊，如果我能拿到100个金币作为我的晚餐礼物的话，我就会祝福你并且回家。这个主妇欣然给了他100个金币，他祝福了这个主妇，然后就回家了。

 

On reaching home, the Brahman lay down in bed covering him with a sheet of cloth. He instructed his wife that if the Seth comes here, start weeping and tell him, "Panditji is laid up with serious illness ever since he has returned after taking meals at your home. The worst thing is that there is no hope of his survival. God knows, what you have fed him?" In the evening when the whole day starved Seth came home from his business tour, he asked his wife, "Did the holy Brahman come here and take his food?" The Sethani said, "Yes, he did come and asked for some food stuff for his home, which I supplied to him. Later on he ate down all the five kg. Purees prepared for him and then taking one hundred guineas as customary gift given to Brahmans after meals, he went away." Hearing this the Seth became unconscious.

当回到家之后，这个婆罗门躺在床上并在身上盖了一块布。他对他的妻子说，如果Seth来了之后，立刻就开始哭泣，并对他说，Panditji从你家回来之后就开始生病。更为可怕的是他已经没有生存的希望了，天知道，他在你家吃了什么东西。这天晚上，当Seth做完生意回家的时候，他问他的妻子，这个婆罗门是否到他家来吃饭？Sethani答到，是的，他来吃过饭，而且还给他的家里带回了一些东西。他吃光了我们准备的5公斤的浓汤，临走时又带走了100金币。听到这些，Seth马上昏了过去。

 

After sometime when the Seth recovered, he at once reached the Brahman's house. The wife of the Brahman sat at the door. The Seth inquired of her, "Where is the Brahman?" Hearing these words of the Seth, the Brahmini began to weep bitterly and spoke, "Ever since he has returned after taking meals at your home, that he is unwell. God knows what has happened to him. He is seriously ill. There is no hope of his survival even. None can say what harmful thing you fed him along with the food?" The Seth was terrified and began to apologize to the Brahmini saying, "Don't weep. Take these two hundred rupees and get the Brahman properly treated; but do not tell any body that the Brahman had taken meals at my house." Thus the greedy Seth returned home dumbfounded. The Seth had to part with a great amount of wealth for his petty greed and had to undergo mental torture as well. Indeed, there is no lack of such greedy persons in this world. They are known as great sinners as well. Due to a little greed, sometimes they lose their precious life too. It is well said:

Makhi bethi shehd par, rahi phank phelae

Hath male aur sir dhune, lalach buri balae

I.e., A fly sat on honey, waves its wings, repents and tosses its head to and fro to come out of it, but in vain. In truth avarice is the root of all evils.

当Seth苏醒过来之后，他马上去了婆罗门的家。婆罗门的妻子坐在门口。当Seth询问他，婆罗门在哪里？听到这话后，婆罗门的妻子马上开始哭泣，并且说到，当他从你家吃完饭回来之后，他就感觉不舒服，天知道发生了什么事情。他病得很厉害，他很可能要死去了。天晓得他在你家吃了什么东西。Seth听了这些话之后十分害怕，并且开始向婆罗门的妻子道歉，不要哭了，请收下这200卢比好好的给婆罗门办理后事，不要告诉任何人婆罗门在我家吃过饭。然后，Seth就迷迷糊糊的回到了家。贪婪的Seth为了自己的贪婪付出了一大笔财富并且承受了精神上的折磨。事实上，世界上还有很多这样贪婪的人。他们同样也是制造罪孽的人。由于丝毫的贪婪，有时他们甚至会失去宝贵的生命。有文为证：

Makhi bethi shehd par, rahi phank phelae

Hath male aur sir dhune, lalach buri balae

粘在蜜糖上的苍蝇，挥动着它的翅膀想从上面逃脱，却白费力气。事实上，贪婪是所有罪恶的源泉。

 

The Crown person of mankind, Lord Ram had to lose his beloved wife Sita out of her greed for the golden deer. If a wise person is possessed even with the least of greed, he also is sure to dwindle from the right path. Ram was an extraordinary superman, yet as a result of greed his wisdom was spoiled. Very often adversity and allurement for others' shake even the right persons from their noble path. Hence, Sir Edwin Arnold says:

'Give freely and receive, but take from none

By greed or force or fraud what is his own.'

It has been said:

Asambhavam haimmrigsya jnm tathapi lulubhai mrigaye

Paraye samapanvipatikale dhiopi punsan malina bhavanti

人类中的王者Ram，由于他对金鹿的贪婪，失去了他深爱的妻子Sita。如果一个人心中哪怕是怀有一丝贪婪的话，他都回从正确的道路上迷失。Ram是个伟大的人，但是由于他的贪婪，他丧失了他的智慧。通常，逆境以及对外物的贪念会使人们从正确的修行道路上迷失。因此，Edwin Arnold说过：

如果一个人不贪婪的话，

他就会广泛的给与却不索求。

有文为证：

Asambhavam haimmrigsya jnm tathapi lulubhai mrigaye

Paraye samapanvipatikale dhiopi punsan malina bhavanti

 

Just as color gives out its full luster only on a neat and clean sheet of canvas; likewise virtues like contentment enter only a clean, pure and upright mind. Only when the impurity of greed is washed away by way of holy living, purity may come to the forefront. From the above it becomes clear that 'Cleanliness is next to Godliness'. According to one view point cleanliness is of two types -external and internal; but according to another viewpoint it is of three types -bodily, mental and pertaining to speech. All these are supplementary and complementary to one another. Even in the absence of one of these, the work cannot be accomplished or perfect purity cannot be achieved.

就像颜色只是在一块干净的帆布上才能显现他所有的光泽，同样地，只有纯洁的、正直的人才能具备满足的美德。当通过修行把不纯洁以及贪婪洗刷掉的时候，纯洁就会自然显现在面前。从上面这些可以看出，纯洁同圣洁是联系在一起的。一种观点认为，纯洁分为内心的和外在的；另外一种认为纯洁分为身体上的、精神上的和语言上的，所有这些都是相辅相成的，缺少任何一种都不能够称为真正意义上的纯洁。

 

If someone says that external i.e., bodily cleanliness is the real cleanliness, the question arises as to why the water animals like frogs and fish that always live in ponds, rivers and seas cannot acquire the virtue of purity. Water path has been assigned the fifth place among baths. There are four other baths in addition to it. The water bath accompanied by those four baths is the real bath. This is the only means of self-purification i.e., soul purification. Internal cleanliness cannot be attained by mere making the body clean through water bath or by arraying the body with ornaments and wearing neat and clean or costly costumes. In the absence of internal cleanliness, all other sources of cleanliness are futile.

如果有人说，外部的纯洁是真正的纯洁，那么问题就出现了。水中的生物，像鱼、青蛙之类永远得不到真正的纯洁。水是五种清洁的方式之一，还有其他四种清洁的方式。这五种清洁的方式综合起来才是自我净化的唯一途径—灵魂的纯洁。只有身体上的洁净或者在身上佩戴饰物或者穿着干净或昂贵的衣服不能够获得内心的纯洁。没有内心的纯洁，所有其他的纯洁都是没有意义的。

 

One day all the five Pandav came to Narayan Lord Shri Krishna and requested him to accompany them on a pilgrimage. Shri Krishna declined to do so for some unknown reason. Then the Pandav urged him to send his some representative to keep company with them. The Lord refused for this as well. The Pandav again appealed, "At least give us something, which we may take on pilgrimage with us and bathing which we may again hand it over to you on our return." On the repeated requests of Pandav, Shri Krishna picked up a gourd lying near by and gave it to the Pandav. The Pandav placed the pieces of gourd into their mouths, they all started vomiting with signs of distress on their faces. One by one they began to complain "I am feeling stomach ache; I am feeling headache; I am feeling giddy" and so on. Seeing all this Lord Shri Krishna asked them, "Well brothers! Why this distress on your faces?" All replied, "The gourd pieces taste very bitter." Then Narayan Shri Krishna replied with a smile, "See, even after a thousand baths, the gourd has not shed its bitterness and acrid taste. Likewise, no good comes out of simply having an outward bath. Internal cleanliness is essential along with external cleanliness." It has been said in the 'Mahabharat':

Atma nadi sanyamtoypurna, satyvha shiltata dyarmi

Tatravagahm kuru Panduputra, Na varina shudhyati chantratma

I.e., O Pandav! This soul is a stream full of water of self-restraint, truth is its current, chastity is its bank and mercy and compassion are its waves. The inner self becomes clean and pure only by bathing in this stream of soul, not by bathing in water.

一天，五位Pandav来请求Shri Krishna陪同他们一起去朝圣，Shri Krishna毫无理由的拒绝了他们。然后，一位Pandav请求Shri Krishna派一个代表跟随他们一起去，他也拒绝了。在Pandav的再三请求下，Shri Krishna捡起了旁边的一个葫芦递给他们。Pandav把葫芦弄碎塞入他们自己的口中，他们马上脸上就表现出想要呕吐的神情，他们开始抱怨，我开始感觉胃痛，我开始感觉头痛，我感觉眩晕等等之类的话。看到这些，Shri Krishna问他们，你们的脸上为什么呈现了痛苦的表情？Pandav回答到，葫芦的碎片尝起来很苦。Shri Krishna笑笑说，即使洗过无数遍，葫芦还是会尝起来又苦又辣。同样地，只是对外部身体的洗浴不会有好的结果。对于外在的纯洁来说，内心的纯洁是必须的。在Mahabharat'中曾经说到过：

Atma nadi sanyamtoypurna, satyvha shiltata dyarmi

Tatravagahm kuru Panduputra, Na varina shudhyati chantratma

即，哦，Pandav，灵魂就是一条满载自律之水的河流，诚实在里面流动着，纯洁是它的两岸，怜悯与同情是它的波浪。只有灵魂的纯洁才能够使人们内心纯洁。

 

While laying stress on the significance of internal purity Maharishi Vyas has also said, "Be he a house-holder or a renounced soul; be he a scholar of the Vedas or the Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, internal purity is essential for all." Thus not only external cleanliness but internal purity is also a must for perfect cleanliness. They both are complementary to each other.

当谈到内心纯洁的重要性的时候，Maharishi Vyas说到，不论他是一个拥有很多财富的人还是一个身无长物的人，抑或是一个学者，内心的纯洁是至关重要的。因此，外在的整洁同内心的纯洁都是纯洁必不可少的因素，二者是相辅相成的。

 

It has been clearly stated in the 'Niyam Saar' -'If there exists even an atom of passions like greed, vanity and conceit in the internal soul, there can be no purity; such a Man there is a bit of poison equivalent even to a small mustard seed in a nectar like delicious ladoo, is the ladoo edible? No, the ladoo remains inedible, as eating it is an invitation to death. Even an atom of poison in the ladoo will also prove fatal. Likewise, even the smallest worldly possession is harmful for the virtue of purity and contentment. Therefore, it is necessary to give up both external and internal possessions to acquire the two types of purity -external and internal. Thus, perfect purity of soul is possible by discarding not only external possessions, but internal possessions also. If purity could be obtained merely by giving up external possessions, why then the birds and animals, which have no external possessions, do not obtain purity? It shows that besides renouncing external possessions, it is necessary to give up internal possessions viz. anger, vanity and greed as well. Only then the virtue of supreme purity 'Shaucha' can be obtained."

在'Niyam Saar'中曾经清楚地描述过，如果内心存在一丝贪婪、虚荣或者欺诈，那内心就不会纯洁，那么人们就不会具有正确的信仰。这样的人就像美味中加进了一点毒药一样，这样的美味就完全无法食用了，因为食用这样的美味就相当于死亡。同样，即使一丝世俗的情感也会妨碍纯洁与满足的美德。因此，人们应当放弃自己内心以及外在的情感来达到内心与外在的纯洁。只有两方面都没有情感，人们才能达到纯洁，不然的话，鸟类和走兽为什么不能够达到纯洁呢？这就说明了，除了放弃外在的情感，人们还应当放弃内心的情感，例如愤怒、虚荣以及贪婪等。只有这样才能够实现至上的纯洁。

 

Anything kept in a clean utensil or container can be preserved fully pure for long, if all the rules of food preservation are observed. But a thing kept in a dirty or impure pot gets a clean utensil to maintain its sweetness and properties. Milk kept only in such clean pot, can be preserved well, otherwise it turns sour. Likewise, a worthy person devoid of wrong belief, worldly attachments, malice, ill-will and greed is sure to be crowned with the virtue of supreme purity, or only then the virtue of supreme purity can be obtained or possessed. It is also necessary to keep the mind neat and clean i.e., perfectly pure to attain this virtue. If the mind is pure, the spiritual qualities acquired by it will also be grand, sacred and lofty.

Untam Manama yasya, tasya bhagiam samuntam

如果存放得当的话，保存在干净器皿或者容器中的东西能够存放很长时间。在一个干净罐子中保存的牛奶能够保存较长的时间，如果放在一个脏的罐子中，它很快就会变质。同样，一个摆脱了错误的信念、世俗的爱恋、怨恨、邪恶的念头以及贪婪的人就能够具有至上的纯洁，只有这样的人才能够得到至上的纯洁。人们同样应当保持自己的思想纯洁，如果思想纯洁，人们的精神就会变得伟大、庄严、崇高。

Untam Manama yasya, tasya bhagiam samuntam

 

He, whose mind is noble, pure, sublime, neat and clean, is blessed with a grand, lofty, holy and pure destiny too. In the absence of the purity of mind, one cannot enjoy good luck. Without raising the destiny to lofty heights, the mind cannot be holy. Someone has rightly said:

Man barhe, dhan barhe, dhane barhi man barhi jae

Man barte sab barhat he barhat barhat barhi jae

Man ghate dhan ghate dhan ghate man ghati jae

Man grate sab ghatat hae, ghatat ghatat ghati jae

一个具有崇高、纯洁、高贵思想的人就能够被赋予伟大与神圣的命运。如果没有纯洁的思想，人们就不会得到好运气。如果人们的命运达不到一定神圣的高度，思想就不会崇高。有人曾经很好地说过：

Man barhe, dhan barhe, dhane barhi man barhi jae

Man barte sab barhat he barhat barhat barhi jae

Man ghate dhan ghate dhan ghate man ghati jae

Man grate sab ghatat hae, ghatat ghatat ghati jae

 

Only when the mind is pure, a man can dedicate his mental energies to the acquisition of wealth and other worldly possessions. If the mind is impure, all our energies go on trifles. In the absence of mental purity, the holy sermons of Lord Jinendra cannot touch, appeal and influence our mind and stay there for long. Then we can neither meditate upon nor cherish the memory of the omniscient Lord Jinendra, nor sing hymns in praise of His celestial virtues.

只有思想纯洁了，人们才能正视对财产的获得以及世俗的感情。如果思想不纯洁，人们就会被琐事烦扰。没有纯洁的思想，人们就不能够认识Jinendra的教义，而且他的教义也不会吸引我们以及长时间影响我们。这样，我们就既不会冥思或者珍视Jinendra的教义，也不会唱圣歌来赞美他的美德。

 

A king very often visited a saint to seek his blessings. He would always pray to him only to give him some holy sermon. The saint paid no attention to his frequent requests. One day the king made a forceful appeal to the saint. At length the saint was appeased and said to the king, "Tomorrow I shall visit your royal palace and deliver my sermon there." The king was overjoyed and again insisted that the saint should oblige him by taking his meals too in the royal palace. The saint readily consented to it. The saint readily taking his begging bowl. The king had devotedly got prepared various types of delicacies and dainty dishes for the saint. At first the king wished to serve to the saint kheer, a preparation of inside the bowl and drew back his hand without serving the kheer into the bowl. At this the saint stood up and got ready to go back. The king was terrified, as the saint had neither taken meals nor delivered sermon. The perturbed king said, "O holy saint! You neither took meals nor delivered a sermon as per your promise; still you are going back home leaving us in the lurch." The saint promptly replied, "I have delivered my sermon, which you have failed to grasp." The king stood dumbfounded. Then the saint asked the perplexed king, "Why did you not serve the kheer into my bowl?" The king said, "Holy Sir! Dust particles and pebbles were lying in your bowl. I did not serve the kheer into the bowl, lest my nectar like sweet and tasty kheer should get spoiled." The saint said, "I had also to teach you this lesson that your mind is full of filth and dirt in the shape of evil passions like anger, vanity, arrogance and greed. Until and unless your mind on being relieved of these state of mind my sermon will also be futile and go waste."

的请求。一天，国王强烈的请求圣人去他的皇宫，圣人欣然接受了邀请。国王十分高兴，并强烈请求圣人务必在他的皇宫进餐，圣人也欣然答应了。第二天，圣人带着他化缘钵去了皇宫，国王全心全意地准备了许多美味可口的食物。开始，国王希望给圣人炼乳吃，国王准备了炼乳却没有把它放在碗里。看到这些，圣人站起来就要回去。国王十分害怕，因为圣人既没有吃饭也没有布教。于是国王说，哦，你既没有吃饭也没有布教，然后把我们很无助地留在这里吗？圣人马上回答到，我已经布教了，但你没有领悟到。国王呆呆地站在那里。于是圣人就问国王，你为什么不把炼乳放在我的碗里？国王说到，你的碗里有脏东西和石头，因此我没有把炼乳盛在你的碗里，这样我的坛子中的炼乳就不会变质。圣人说到，我要教给你的就是，你的思想已经充满了愤怒、虚荣、傲慢以及贪婪。如果你的思想是如此的不纯洁，我如何将我的教义传授给你呢？如果传授给你的话，我的教义也会变得琐碎无用。

 

By and by as a living being goes on discarding evil passions like greed, anger and vanity he marches on ahead in the direction of uplifting his soul and attains perfect purity of soul. We should aim at achieving purity of soul. Besides discarding the evil passion of Acharya Shivarya has also emphasized the need of discarding greed;

Lobhe keyai atho, nr hohi purisas aparhibhogasya

Akevi havdi lobhai, athi padibhogvam tas

当人们逐渐放弃了贪婪、愤怒以及虚荣等邪恶的情感后，他就开始向着升华、净化自己灵魂的方向前进。我们最终的的目标就是灵魂的纯洁。除了要放弃邪恶的情感之外，Acharya Shivarya还强调到人们要放弃贪婪：

Lobhe keyai atho, nr hohi purisas aparhibhogasya

Akevi havdi lobhai, athi padibhogvam tas

 

Despite being greedy a man bereft of good luck cannot possess wealth. On the contrary a man on whom fortune smiles can have boundless wealth without craving for it. Therefore, greed for money is in no way helpful in the acquisition of wealth, rather good luck helps it. Realizing this truth we should try to get rid of greed. The question arises, 'How should we put an end to the predominating feeling of greed?' This question has been answered by Acharya Kundkund Swamy in 'Kartikeyanupreksha' thus:

Sam santosh jalainr jo dhovadi tiv loh mal punjamBhoynr gidhi vihinro tas saucham have vimlam

I.e., He who washes away the fifth of ambitions and greed with the water of the feeling of equanimity and contentment, does not run after worldly enjoyments attains the unblemished virtue of supreme purity.

一个贪婪的人会被剥夺了拥有财富的好运气，相反地，如果不苛求财富的话反而会拥有无尽的财富。因此，无论从哪方面来说，贪婪的人都不会得到财富。认识到这一点后，人们就应当摆脱贪婪的束缚。

Ambitions of man are infinite. Ambitions grow eternal in the mind of man. Even if a man goes on getting all things that he aspires for, his ambitions know no end; rather they go on multiplying. Some saintly person has rightly remarked; 'Every fulfilled desire leaves a bitter taste in the mouth before it is fully satiated.'

Itchati shatisahastram sahastri lakshmihatai

lakshadhipastha rajiyam rajyasth swargmihate

I.e., He who owns one hundred rupees aspires to obtain one thousand rupees; one who possesses one thousand rupees aspires to be a multimillionaire. A multi-millionaire cherishes the ambition to obtain a kingdom and a king desires to be the sovereign ruler of the kingdom of heaven. Thus, a man's ambitions are always on the increase. This thing has been made clear below:

"If somebody were to give the whole earth to one man, even then the man will not be satisfied; a greedy person is extremely difficult to be satisfied."

Lobhat krodh prabhavti, lobhat kam prajaytai

Lobhatmohach nashch lobh papasya karanam

I.e., Anger destroys love, pride puts an end to modesty, and deceit removes friends, while greed destroys everything.

人们的野心是没有尽头的。人们内心都有野心。即使一个人得到了他所想要的一切东西，他还是有野心。有些智慧的人曾经说过：所有的愿望在完全满足之前都会让人们口中感到苦涩。

Itchati shatisahastram sahastri lakshmihatai

lakshadhipastha rajiyam rajyasth swargmihate

即一个拥有一百卢比的人希望得到一千卢比，一个拥有一千卢比的人希望成为百万富翁，一个百万富翁希望能够统治一个国家。因此，人们的野心总是在不断增长。下面这段话就说得很清楚。

   即，即使把整个世界给一些人，他们仍然会不满意，一个贪婪的人总是难以满足。

Lobhat krodh prabhavti, lobhat kam prajaytai

Lobhatmohach nashch lobh papasya karanam

即，愤怒摧毁爱情，傲慢摧毁谦逊，欺骗摧毁友谊，贪婪则摧毁一切。

 

There was a very miserly Brahman named Kankbhat. Once he went to take a holy dip in the Ganga. He was taking dips in the holy Ganga time and again. While bathing there, some persons informed him that his one-paisa coin had fallen into the river. So he started making his best efforts, the Brahman could not find the coin. So he spoke, "Well, O mother Ganga! I offer this coin to you."

曾经有个非常吝啬的婆罗门叫做Kankbhat。一次他去恒河沐浴，当他沐浴的时候，有人告诉他，他有一派萨的硬币掉进了河水，他就开始努力的寻找，但是却没有找到。于是他说，哦，恒河母亲啊，我把这枚硬币献给你。

At that time the Brahman was on his way to Southern India on a business tour. There one day he received the message of his mother's sad demise. The Brahman was extremely miser. He thought that if he went back to his village to perform his mother's funeral rites, it would be very expensive. But he had great regard and affection for his mother. So he decided to buy a coconut at that very place and perform his dead mother's last rituals. With this idea in his mind he went to the market place to buy a coconut. He stepped into a shop. He inquired of the shopkeeper the price of a coconut. The shopkeeper replied that a coconut would cost him fifty paisa. Kankbhat said, "Brother! Reduce the price a little." But the shopkeeper declined to do so. Kankbhat marched ahead. Another shopkeeper demanded forty paisas as price for a similar coconut. Kankbhat did not buy the coconut from that shop, too. Thus making inquiries from shop to shop he reached a wholesale coconut store. Kankbhat asked the salesman of the store the price of one coconut. The sales man replied, "Two paisa." At this Kankbhat said, "Well, gentleman"! I hail from a far off place. Please allow me some discount and sell me a coconut for one paisa." At this the owner of the shop said, "We are traders. How can we sell you a coconut below the price we paid for it? If you want to buy a coconut for one paisa, go to a coconut field. There you will get it for one paisa."

当时Kankbhat正在去印度南部做生意的路上。一天他收到了自己母亲死亡的消息。他想到，如果他回去参加母亲葬礼的话会花费非常大，但是他又非常尊敬和深爱自己的母亲。于是，他每到一个地方就买一个椰子来做他母亲的葬礼。想到这，他就去市场买椰子。当他问道一个商贩椰子价格的时候，商贩答道，一个椰子要花50派萨。Kankbhat说，稍微少一些吧，却被商贩拒绝了。Kankbhat继续向前走，发现另外一个商贩只需要40派萨就能买到一个类似的椰子。Kankbhat也没有买椰子，他把整个市场椰子的价格问了一遍，最后来到了一个批发椰子的地方。他问道椰子的价格，摊主回答道，2派萨。Kankbhat就说，我来自一个很远的地方，请再给我便宜一些吧，一个派萨怎么样？摊主说，我们是做生意的，怎么能做赔本的生意呢？如果你想用一个派萨买一个椰子的话，你就去椰子园吧。

 

Hence Kankbhat marched forward in search of a coconut field. After travelling a short distance, he came across a farmer. He enquired him the price of a coconut. The peasant answered, "The price is one paisa." By this time the greed of the Brahman was roused all the more and he said, "Well brother! I come from a distance place. Please give me a coconut free of cost." Being enraged the farmer spoke, "If you want to get a coconut cost free, go to the forest and pluck with your own hands as many cost-free coconuts as you like from the trees, which belong to none." Being overjoyed Kankbhat proceeded towards the forest. In the forest he saw trees overloaded with coconuts. Seeing them he was overwhelmed with joy. But he did not know how to climb a coconut tree. Anyhow he climbed upon a tree. The problem was how he should pluck coconuts now. He did not know plucking of coconuts from the tree as well. When he tried to pull the bunch of coconuts from the tree, in this process his foot slipped from the stem of the tree and he hung in the middle holding the branch in his hand. No sooner did he peep downward, than he saw a deep well nearby. He wailed, "Alas! Now I shall meet untimely death." He was greatly terrified.

于是Kankbhat就向前走去寻找椰子园。走了一小段路之后，他遇到了一个农民，并向他询问椰子的价格。农民答到，一个派萨。这时贪婪的Kankbhat十分兴奋，他说，我是从很远里面自己砍椰子去吧。听到这话后，兴奋得Kankbhat径直走向森林。在森林中，Kankbhat看到了结满了椰子的树。尽管他不知道如何爬树，但他最终还是爬上了这棵椰子树，并好不容易从树上摘下了椰子。这时他的脚不小心从树干上滑落下来，并用手抓住了树枝悬挂在半空中。很快，他又开始向下掉落，这时他看到了旁边的一口深井，他哀号到，我要摔死了！

 

A man on camel back was passing by that way just then. Kambhat prayed to the camel rider, "Brother! Save my life." It was a golden opportunity for the camel driver to fish in others' troubled waters. So he asked, "Well! Tell me what will you pay me for saving your life?" Kambhat replied, "I have five hundred rupees in my pocket, I shall give them to you." The camel rider was overjoyed. He brought the camel close to the tree and making the camel stand under it, himself he stood on the camel back. As soon as he caught hold of the legs of Kankbhat to give him support, the camel slipped away from under him and fled. Now two persons were suspended from the tree instead of one.

这时，一个人骑着骆驼经过。Kankbhat骑骆驼的人说，请救我一命吧。这对骑骆驼的人正是一个漫天要价的好机会，于是他说，我救了你之后，你用什么来报答我呢？Kankbhat答到，我会把我口袋中的500卢比都给你。这个骑骆驼的人十分高兴。于是他站在骆驼的背上，准备把Kankbhat救下来。正在他刚刚抓住Kankbhat的脚的时候，骆驼突然跑开了，于是这两个人都被悬挂在半空中。

 

Meanwhile, the king's elephant driver, riding his elephant was passing from that side. Seeing the two men hanging from the tree, he began to laugh. The two persons hanging from the tree appealed to him to rescue them. The elephant driver was also overpowered by greed. He also asked "What will you pay me for saving you?" Kambhat promised to pay him five hundred rupees; and the camel driver also agreed to reward him with one thousand rupees. The elephant driver was thrilled. He made the elephant stand under the tree and hardly had he caught hold of the legs of the lower person taking right position on his elephant, the elephant also fled away being perplexed. Now three persons were swinging from one and the same twig of the tree.

这时，国王的驯象师骑着大象路过。他看到两个人悬挂在半空中，大笑起来。这两个人请求驯象师把他们救下来。驯象师也是一个贪婪的人，他问到，我救了你们之后，你们用什么来报答我呢？Kankbhat答应支付他500卢比，骑骆驼的人答应支付他1000卢比。驯象师站在大象的背上，准备抓住骑骆驼人的脚把他们救下来，当他抓住骑骆驼人的脚的时候，大象突然跑开了。这样，三个人就都挂在了树枝上。

 

By this time Kankbhat was dead tired of hanging so long. Ultimately he spoke, "My hands are fully unnerved; now my grip of the tree twig is getting loose." Being terrified the two lower persons said, "Oh brother! Do not do so; otherwise all of us will be killed." At this Kankbhat said, "Previously you had claimed money from me to save my life. Now it is my turn. Tell me, what both of you will pay me for it; otherwise I shall leave hold of the tree just now." One of them said, "I shall pay you five hundred rupees," and the second man offered him one thousand rupees. Kamkbhat rejoiced; for he thought, "How fine! I shall get cost free coconuts besides a good amount of money." Indeed, it was a gala day for him. While he was thus fully absorbed in his wishful thinking and greedy thoughts, he lost his grip of the twig and instantly all the three fell into the deep well below. The three met their doom due to excess of greed. Likewise, daily the creatures in all the three worlds are meeting their sad and untimely demise being overpowered with endless greed.

这时，Kankbhat已经再也坚持不住了。最后他说，我的手抓不住了，我要松手了。听到这话后，下面的两个人说，不要啊，不然我们会死的。这时，Kankbhat说到，开始你们向我要钱才救我，现在轮到我想你们要钱了。告诉我，你们都要给我多少钱，不然我就要松手了。一个人说，我要付给你500卢比，第二个人说，我要付给你1000卢比。Kankbhat想，这是多么好的一天啊，我既得到了免费的椰子，又挣了一笔钱。当他沉浸在他的这种想法中时，他突然没有抓紧树干，他们三个一起掉入了井底。这三个人由于贪婪，得到了他们应有的结果。同样地，世界上的万物由于他们无止境的贪婪，都会得到悲惨的结果。

 

Rightly has it been said:

"Greed is the root cause of all crimes and sins." Alas! To what a miserable plight greed leads a man. The evil passion of greed degrades a man so low that he does not hesitate to take off ornaments from the dead bodies of women floating on floodwater. He steals the luggage of persons killed in a train accident or air crash; and loots the goods of earthquake victims under the pretext of doing relief work. Indeed greed knows no end. Given below are the noble words of a great scholar:

"Contentment is the cheapest, safest and surest remedy for all troubles that may possibly come upon man. Want of it, only augments, intensifies and prolongs the pain, and sometimes perpetuates it."

有文章曾经说过：

贪婪是所有罪恶以及罪孽的根源。那么，贪婪会给人们带来多么痛苦的结果啊。贪婪使人们品德变得堕落，他们甚至会毫不犹豫的拾取女人尸体上的饰品。它会诱惑人们盗取在事故中失事的人们的行李，抢夺在地震中遇难人们的财产。事实上，贪婪没有结果。下面是一个伟大的学者的话：

“满足是解决人们所遇到困难的最简单、安全、有效的方法。欲望只会扩大、增强、延长人们的痛苦，甚至使痛苦伴随人们一生。”

 

There lived a Seth named Sagar Dutt in Kampila city. Although the Seth, who lit the fuel of his heart's ambitions with the fire of deep rooted greed, had inherited ten million gold coins (guineas) from ancestors besides his self earned five million guineas, yet he was extremely greedy. What to speak of the preparation of dainty dishes and sweet meats like ladoos even vegetables were never cooked in his house. He always thought if vegetables were to be cooked, money would have to be spent on oil, chilies and spices, and more foodstuffs would be consumed on its getting tasty. Not only this, he also did not go to anybody's house to take meals or attend a feast. First, because he believed that the tongue becomes addicted to juicy and delicious foods on taking food at others' house; secondly, one day in exchange he will also have to invite the person for meals at his home.

在Kampila城住着一个叫Sagar Dutt的人，在他的内心深处充满了贪婪的想法。他已经挣到了五百万的金&#