These people do not afflict or kill one another, or
covet one another's things. There no sin occurs, no doubt arises.[584]
There the fruits of all (religious) acts are visible. There some enjoy
seats and drinks and viands of the best kind, and live within palaces and
mansions. There some, adorned with ornaments of gold, surround themselves
with every article of enjoyment. There are, again, some that eat very
abstemiously, for only keeping body and soul together. There some, with
great toil, seek to hold the life-breaths.[585] Here (in this region that
is inhabited by us), some men are devoted to righteousness and some to
deceit. Some are happy and some miserable; some are poor and some rich.
Here toil, and fear and delusion, and painful hunger make their
appearance. Here cupidity for wealth is also seen, a passion that
stupefies even those that are learned amongst men. Here diverse opinions
prevail, broached by those that do deeds which are righteous or sinful.
That man possessed of wisdom who knows all those opinions which may be
divided into two kinds, is never stained by sin. Deceit With fraud,
theft, slander, malice, oppression, injury, treachery, and untruth, and
vices that detract from the merit of his penances who practises them. He,
on the other hand, possessed of learning, who avoids them, finds the
merit of his penances increased. Here there is much reflection about acts
that are righteous and those that are unrighteous. This region that we
inhabit is the field of action.
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