Bodhicaryavatara 1.56

1.56

gataya eva pattanāni paṇyadravyakrayavikrayanagarāṇi iha pattanāni / tadvat śubhāśubhakarmapaṇyadravyakrayavikrayasthānāni gatipattanāni / teṣu vipravāso vipravasanameva śīlaṃ svabhāvo yeṣāṃ te tathoktāḥ / teṣāṃ saṃbodhanam / he gatipattanavipravāsaśīlāḥ, sudṛḍhaṃ gṛhṇata bodhicittaratnam / bodhicittameva ratnaṃ ratnamiva / yathā cintāmaṇimahāratnaṃ sarvadāridyadurgatipraśamanahetuḥ, (Bcp 9) tathā idamapi bodhicittaratnam / ayamabhiprāyaḥ- vaṇija eva sukhasaṃpattilābhārthino yūyam / ataḥ idameva mahāratnaṃ mahatādareṇa gṛhṇata / kutaḥ? bahumūlyamiti hetupadametat / yasmādanarghamidaṃ sarvātiśāyi laukikalokottarasaṃpattinidānabhūtatvāt, tasmādidameva grāhyamityarthaḥ / kathamidaṃ jñāyata iti cedāha- suparīkṣitamiti / suṣṭhu nirūpitaṃ samyaṅ nirṇītamityarthaḥ / kairityāha- aprameyadhībhiḥ / aprameyā pramātumaśakyā dhīrbuddhiryeṣāṃ taiḥ mahāprājñaiḥ buddhabodhisattvaiḥ / etāvatā parīkṣāyāṃ skhalitamapi nāsti iti suparīkśitamucyate / punarapi kiṃbhūtaiḥ? jagadekasārthavāhaiḥ / sārthaṃ vāhayantītyaṇ / jagatāmeka eva sārthavāhāḥ karuṇāvaśavartino buddhā bhagavanto bodhisattvāśca, taiḥ / yathā khalu vaṇijāṃ hitāhitaprāptiparihārayorhitaiṣiṇo jñānavantaśca sārthavāhā netāro bhavanti, iti na tatra visaṃvādasaṃbhāvanā, tathā atrāpītyabhiprāyaḥ / tasmādidameva bodhicittaratnamanarghaṃ sudṛḍhaṃ grāhyamiti / etacca tatraivoktam-

The destinies themselves are the cities. In this world, cities are the towns for buying and selling commodities. Likewise, the "cities of the destinies" are the places for buying and selling the commodities of wholesome and unwholesome actions. Those whose practice or nature is solely residing in them, that is, living abroad in them, are so called. This is an address to them: "O you who are accustomed to residing in the cities of the destinies, seize firmly the jewel of the awakening mind!" The awakening mind itself is a jewel, or is like a jewel. Just as the great wish-fulfilling jewel is the cause of pacifying all poverty and miserable destinies, so too is this jewel of the awakening mind. The meaning is this: You who are seeking the attainment of the prosperity of happiness are like merchants. Therefore, seize this very great jewel with immense reverence. Why? "Priceless"—this is a phrase of reason. Because it is invaluable, surpassing everything, by virtue of being the foundation for worldly and supramundane prosperity, for that reason this alone is to be grasped; this is the meaning. If it is asked: How is this known? He says: "thoroughly examined." The meaning is well investigated, properly ascertained. By whom? He says: "by those of immeasurable intellect." By those whose intellect, that is, intelligence, is immeasurable, impossible to fathom—by the great wise Buddhas and bodhisattvas. By this much, there is not even an error in the examination; thus it is said to be "thoroughly examined." Again, what kind [of beings]? "By the sole caravan leaders of the world." They guide the caravan, hence caravan leaders. The sole caravan leaders of the world are the Blessed Buddhas and the bodhisattvas who are swayed by compassion; by them. Just as the caravan leaders of merchants, being well-wishers and wise, are guides in attaining what is beneficial and avoiding what is harmful, so that there is no possibility of deceit there, so too here—this is the intention. Therefore, this priceless jewel of the awakening mind itself is to be grasped very firmly. And this is stated in that very [sūtra]: