जसहरचरिउ केर सुहासिय-वयरााइं

Summary

The extracted text discusses the nature of human language, describing it as a dynamic and ever-changing phenomenon, akin to a flowing river. It notes that the origin of language is tied to the dawn of humanity, with its history so vast that no specific timeline can be fixed. The text then shifts to the concept of subhashitas (wise sayings) in literature, which are described as concise, uplifting, and didactic expressions that convey profound truths, much like an ocean in a pot. These sayings are highlighted as a significant part of literary works, with the poet Pushpadanta (Pusphadanta) being noted for his rich use of such subhashitas in his epic 'Jasaharachariu' (Yashodhara Charitra). The text presents a selection of these subhashitas, categorized by themes such as impermanence of kingdom and body, sensory pleasures, stubbornness, wealth, the glory of dharma, fate, karma, and the nature of the body. For instance, it states that neither the seven elements of a kingdom nor the eight parts of the body are eternal. Sensory pleasures are described as great suffering, which wise men avoid. The text also emphasizes that dharma (righteousness) leads to heaven, liberation, and various exalted states like being a Jina, king, or god. It critiques the body as a bundle of sorrows, resistant to purification, and ultimately subject to decay and death, despite all efforts to maintain it. The subhashitas further illustrate the futility of actions like singing to the deaf, sowing in barren land, or giving charity to the unworthy, comparing them to crying in the wilderness. The text concludes by praising these subhashitas for their ability to illuminate the mind with knowledge and hope, even in darkness and despair.