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To understand the true nature of Syadvada, Apekshavada or Anekantavada one must properly follow the two parables viz.
(1) The other side of the shield and (2) The story of Blind men and the Elephant.
(1) The other side of the shield: In a compound on the outskirts of a village there was a statue erected in honour of one of its heroes. It had a sword in one hand and shield in the other. One side of this shield was gilted with silver while its other side was gilted with gold.
Now two unknown persons came there each from the opposite direction and began expressing their views.
One of them said "This is a very beautiful statue but even more than that this shield gilted with silver excels in beauty."
Hearing this the other said "The shield is not gilted with silver, it is gilted with gold, please look at it properly."
Upon this the first person was surprised. He scrutinised the shield very minutely, and stated "Surely, this shield is gilted with silver only. There is not the slightest indication of gold therein.”
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
