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A Treatise on Jainism
silver. Two unknown persons came there each from the opposite directions and began expressing their views. One said that the statue was beautiful and more so because its shield was gilted with gold. The other said that the shield was not gilted with gold but was gilted with silver. A quarrel ensued between them. A wise man came from the village by that time and said that the shield was gilted with gold as well as silver. Let both of you just exchange your places and see the other side of the shield. Both realised their error and apologised to each other for fighting falsely. (2) Once a royal retinue was stopping at a village to spend their afternoon. The village folk came there and amongst them there were six blind men. All had heard a lot about elephant but none had ever been able to see one. They requested the care-taker to allow them to touch the elephant so that they may be able to make out what the elephant could be like. They were permitted to do so. The first who came across the ears stated that the elephant was like a husk weeding tool (Supada). The other caught hold of the trunk and stated that the elephant was like a big wooden pestle. The third touched the tusks and said it was like
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