भीतर-ही-भीतर
आँखों से संघर्ष करते
अपने अस्तित्व को ही खो देते हैं
और
घृणास्पद, दुर्गन्ध, बीभत्स
गीड़ का रूप धारण कर
विद्रूप बन बाहर आते हैं
वह रज-कण...।
यह सब प्रभाव
जो हम पर पड़ा है।
समता के धनी श्रमण का है”
अन्त में यूँ कह, सेठ
भोजन प्रारम्भ करता, कि
पुनः कलश की ओर से
व्यंगात्मक भाषा का प्रयोग हुआ-
“अरे सुनो!
कोष के श्रमण बहुत बार मिले हैं
होश के श्रमण होते विरले ही,
और
उस समता से क्या प्रयोजन
जिसमें इतनी भी क्षमता नहीं है
जो समय पर,
भय-भीत को अभय दे सके,
श्रय-रीत को आश्रय दे सके,
यह कैसी विडम्बना है ?
भयभीत हुए बिना
श्रमण का भेष धारण कर,
अभय का हाथ उठा कर,
शरणागत को आशीष देने की अपेक्षा,
They lose their very existence
While struggling with their eyes
Constantly from within
And
Those particles of dust...
Come out in an ugly form,
Assuming the shape of a hateful bad-smelling,
Horrible filth.
All this effect
Which has been produced upon us
Is that of an ascetic, who is rich in equanimity"
Having said thus in the end, the eminent trader
Would have just started taking food, when,
Again, from the side of the golden pitcher,
The ironical wordings were used –
“O listen!
The ascetics of funds have been found frequently
The ascetics of sense and sensibility are rarely seen, And
What purpose is served with that equanimity
Which doesn't possess even the competence
That should infuse at the right time,
A sense of fearlessness into the terror-stricken,
That should give refuge to the shelterless ?
What a mockery is it?
Without being afraid of the recurrent births and deaths Having held his hand high as an assurance of Protection, Having impersonated himself as an ascetic, In view of blessing a shelter-seeker –