Beyond Doubt

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 21

I have remained victorious and unparallelled. Since then I have been eagerly waiting for an opportunity like this, whereby I can quench my thirst of debating. With great difficulty I have got a chance and I should not miss this chance."
Saying this, Indrabhuti began to prepare himself for the visit. When his younger brother, Agnibhuti saw him doing this he said: "Brother, is there any need for an army to trap an ant? An axe is not necessary to cut a straw nor is an elephant required to uproot the beautiful lotus. I do not see the need of a great scholar like you to defeat that so called kevali. I request you to grant me the permission to go and defeat Him". Hearing this, Indrabhuti told Agnibhuti: "Brother, you are absolutely correct. Actually speaking , I do not see the necessity for you also to go and debate with Him. Even the youngest of my fivehundred disciples is capable of defeating Him, but I am unable to continue my enthusiasm to defeat Him. A thorn, even if small, is bound to prick; therefore, I myself intend to go. As it is, I have posted victory against all scholars and debators, but just as little grains drop from the mouth of an elephant while eating and while cooking and roasting, some parched grains remain uncooked and unroasted and while peeling fruits a small portion may remain unpealed or while a sesame seed remains uncrushed in the oil mill, so also I suppose this one speaker has been left unconquered by me. Unless and until I conquer Him, I cannot, in true terms, be an absolute conqueror. Just as a woman ceases to be chaste and pious even if she degenerates from her vow even for a moment so also I cannot be entitled to real credit unless He remains unconquered, Until then my reputation and fame will remain stained and tarnished. Just as asmall hole causes the entire boat to sink and the breaking of a single brick causes the wall to fall, so also if one scholar remains undefeated, then my success will all be in vain. Hence I myself will go ahead with debating and conquer Him".
1 Kevali
Omniscient