________________
I AM MAHĀVĪRA
broken pots from him". He said.
Jain Education International
51
Once, I reached the city of Palaśapur while wandering-onfoot. A rich potter named Sabdalaputra lived there. He was a fatalist. I found during my wanderings that the majority of people of our country admit, "What lay in fate, will occur." It is the reason; there is a large amount of indolence in the people. There is little tendency to work. This fatalism has helped in sowing the seeds of heterogeneity in the society. It has desisted the prosperity and progress of others. I wish people should abandon the tendency of fatalism.
13
FATE OR EXERTION?
It was fortunate that Sabdalputra came to listen to my sermons. He asked questions regarding fatalism.
I asked him, "Tell me whether you make the clay pots or they get made automatically?
"They get made on the basis of their fate. What could be the effect of my effort in making them?" He said.
"What will you do when somebody breaks your pots by stones or sticks?". I asked him.
"I will penalize him badly. I will also realize the cost of the
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
