[subhāṣita/apophthegm] Even the bhavya unadmonished are not competent to cross the saṃsāra

[Vyom A. Shah]

धातुः स काञ्चनमयः क्रियया विहीनः कालान्तरादपि न याति सुवर्णभावम्।

एवं जगत्यमितभव्यजनश्चिरेण नालं भवाद् व्रजितुमत्र विनोपदेशात्॥

[धातुः। सः। काञ्चनमयः। क्रियया। विहीनः। कालान्तराद्। अपि। न। याति। सुवर्ण-भावम्।

एवम्। जगति। अमित-भव्य-जनः। चिरेण। न। अलम्। भवाद्। व्रजितुम्। अत्र। विना। उपदेशात्॥]

{dhātuḥ sa kāñcanamayaḥ kriyayā vihīnaḥ kālāntarādapi na yāti suvarṇabhāvam.
evaṃ jagatyamitabhavyajanaścireṇa nālaṃ bhavād vrajitumatra vinopadeśāt..}

Just as a metal mixed with gold, left without any (purifying) action, does not become gold however much time may pass; so too, in this world, a bhavya (one who possesses the inherent capacity for liberation) without proper instruction, is not competent, even over a prolonged period, to cross the saṃsāra (the cycle of births and deaths).

This verse is from

Text name: Varāṅgacaritam

Author of text: Jaṭāsiṃhanandin

Text description: A Sanskrit text on life of Varāṅga who faced various difficulties in following the twelve basic vows of Śrāvaka and how he overcame them, completed his worldly duties, initiated and eventually attained mokṣa. The text was composed not later than 8th century CE.

Publishers: Bhāratavarṣīya Anekānta Vidvat Pariṣad, Varansi (1996)