Jain Ramayana Part 1

SR No.: 002021
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 452
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Mythology, & Story
File Size: 21 MB

Page 189

Meeting Narad
177
cher's son, Parvat had assumed the place of his father and he was absorbed in teaching the scripture to some exceptionally intelligent students. Ajairyashtavyam (Aja means mesha). It means that goats should be sacrificed at a Yajna. He was explaining the meaning of the hymn thus. A Yajna should be carried out by offering goats as a sacrifice.” I was shocked when I heard Parvat teaching thus. I said to him affectionately.
“Dear friend ! I think you are making a mistake in interpreting the hymn."
"What kind of a mistake ?” he asked me with a feeling of false prestige.
“Dear Parvat! Aja does not mean a goat here as explained by you. Our Gurudev interpreted it as "food-grain three years old which cannot sprout and germinate if sown”. I wonder why, you have been misinterpreting it !”.
"Oh! How is it possible? The same Gurudev taught me and you. How can there be any difference in his interpretation? Narad ! You are uttering a lie. Our Gurudev did not interpret it thus; on the contrary, he always said that Aja meant only a goat. Moreover, the dictionary also gives the same meaning. In the dictionary it is said that Aja means Mesh or a goat". Parvat said a little angrily, trying to stick to his wrong interpretation, prompted by his sense of false prestige.
"Look here! A word can have more than one meaning; the main meaning and the secondary meaning. Our Gurudev did not give the main meaning of the word; he gave the secondary meaning. He, no doubt, gave the main meaning of the word but with reference to a Yajna, he gave the secondary meaning. Actually, with reference to a Yajna, Aja means, foodgrain three years old which cannot germinate when sown” I said making my point clear.
Parvat was angry when I gave this interpretation. He said obstinately :
“No! No! This is absolutely wrong. The Gurudev definitely interpreted Aja to mean a goat.