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The Concept of Pañcasila in Indian Thought
leads to a chaotic state in the social order. In spite of this the total universality of the principle of non-stealing is questioned: in the Mahābhārata, though it is regarded as an essential moral principle. It is secondary to certain primary principles; therefore, it cannot be regarded as an exceptionlessprinciple. A famous parable is related in the Mahābhārata in this context : In a great famine which continued for twelve years sage Viśvāmitra in severe emergency had stolen the dog's flesh from the house of a Sūdra, for this reason he was very much criticised and was called 'pañca pañca nakhā bhakşya' (i. e. one who eats the flesh of five types of animals; dog is one of them)? but Viśvāmitra defended himself by saying that life is always better than death, because it is only in life that one can establish himself in dharma or righteousness.2 What therefore is posited in the Mahābhārata is that in time of real emergency to save one's own life or that of others stealing is no vice. Some of the Western thinkers like Hobbes and J. S. Mill opine very much akin to this. Mill has gone even further by saying that “to save a life, it may not only be allowable but a duty to steal." The question of discussion of exceptions in any principle of morality is a very important and difficult task; what is that principle that finally justifies an action ? or what is totally exceptionless ? Such a question should be dealt with independently and elaborately. But it is not only in the Mahābhārata that the room to exceptions in the principle of non-stealing has been given, even the extremely rigorous systems cannot overrule exceptions in the principle of non-stealing, though there is a difference in degree and extent to which exceptions are allowed in different systems.
1. Manu 5.18. 2 जीवितं मरणं श्रेयो जीवनधर्ममेवाप्नुयात् ।
:--Mahābhārata, śāntiparva, 141. 3. Utilitarianism–J. S. Mill, chap. V, p. 95.
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