________________
and domestic animals need to be helped by us. All have necessities of life such as food, clothes and shelter, which must be provided for. Every one likes to be happy and shun misery. Our happiness lies in making alil whom we consider our own, happy. To neglect our old parents and other family members, the handicaped or the orphans is contrary to our tradition and culture. Besides, failure to perform ones duty breeds ill-will and earns censure from all around and also makes us insensitive in nature. We lose prestige and go down in the estimation of others. To maintain our dear ones and dependents well, is the virture of the noble. (26) To be far-sighted :
Before starting any acticity, we should think of consequence first lest we be caught napping like the one who would try to dig a well after confronted by afire but he should be far-sighted like the one who would build a wall before hand to guard against an anticipated flood. One who can use his discretion and decide what is appropriate and what is not in the given context of object, time, place and essence of a situation and act accordingly become famous, earns respect and is able to do his own good and also of those of others. One should avoir short-sightedness of a man like King Sankh who, is haste, got the arms of his queen Kalavati served and repented later on. Any action should be guided by far sightedness to avoid mistake. (27) To discern the difference between the good and the bad :
Though all men are equal, every man is different in nature and ability from others. In the same way one king differs from another king; one gentleman from another gentleman, a father from his son and a brother from his brother. Similarly, we have different kind of milk e.g. milk of a buffalo, a camel, a goat, an ass, thor, akodo and a banana tree. Though, known by the same name, all these products differ widely in qualities. Animals like an elephant, a bull, a tiger, a lion, a horse, a cow, etc; also differ from one another in their qualities whether good or bad. Hence, the wise person should discern inherent difference all around him so as to cultivate merits in himself. He who develops his own merits by learning to discern the subtel difference, becomes far-sighted. We should also understand what is proper and improper for the good of the body and also that of the self. One who knows right course of action distinguishing between the nature of
73
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
