________________
CONFLUENCE OF OPPOSITES
353 with levity and surprise. -Dost thou make a jest of us? Neither God nor Moses is, however, angered by this levity. Moses is quite serious ---God forbid that I should jest with you in
this matter! (2) The Jews now ask, "What it is ?” This is suffi.
ciently significant by itself. What do you mean by a cow-sacrifice ? God is the protector of life, and you say that he wants a sacrifice !
If this is not a joke what is it? (3) It is a cow that is neither young nor old, but
of a middle age between that.' (4) "Teil us its colour,' they ask again. (5) Red, intensely red, the delight of the behol
ders!'answered Moses. (6) They still ask, "What is it, for cows are alike
to us?' (7) “The one that is not broken to plough the earth
or water the field, a sound one, with no ble
mish in her!"---replies Moses. (8) At last the interlocutors are satisfied "Now
hast thou brought the truth," Moses has
obtained pass marks ! (9) The cow is now sacrificed, yet the levity of the
people is not at an end! They are yet near
not doing it ! (10) The "they” of Moses' time now becomes
"ye" and "yourselves,"
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
