Beyond Doubt

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 18

Once again, Indrabhuti began to wonder as to who this greater Omniscient could be, since in his opinion, he was the greatest. He said that if these gods were so particular to pay their obeisances to the Omniscient, they ought to bow to him and listen to his discourse. He could not understand why those gods were heading past the great scholars assembled for the Yagna. In the words of poet, Indrabhuti's feelings can be expressed thus:
अहो सुराः कथं भ्रान्तया
तीर्थाश्च इव वायसाः । कमलाकरवद्भेकाः
मक्षिकाश्चन्दनं यथा ।
करमा इव सद्वृक्षान्
क्षीरानं शूकरा यथा ।
अर्कस्यालोकवद घूका
स्तक्त्वा यागं प्रयान्ति यत् ॥
Oh! It is such a pity that the illusioned souls are drifting past this holy place. They are like the crows which fly away from the holy places and like the frogs that abandon the lakes. Just as bees leave the sandalwood tree and camels fail to recognise the importance of fruitful trees, pigs look over good food and the owls close their eyes to sunlight, so also these devas are illusioned. He also said that the union of the so-called omniscient and the devas was like that of a village mimic (dancer) entertaining a company of fools since two fools are most pleased with each other's company.
Someone advised the bitter gourd not to creep over the neem tree since it would become more bitter. But the creeper paid no heed to the advice and the adviser remarked that he did not find fault of the bitter gourd () in doing so but said that everybody seems to find pleasure in the company of those possessing similar qualities and interest. Though a crow flaps over neem fruits, the mango fruit does not lose its sweetness and its taste is in tact as before. Indrabhuti said: "Just as mango is the king of fruits so am I the king
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