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7. MAURYAPUTRA- REGARDING THE EXISTENCE
OF GODS
Hearing that Mandika and others had become monks, Mauryaputra decided to approach Mahā vīra. Mahāvīra accosted him by his name and gotra as Mauryaputra Kāśyapa and told him about his doubt as to the existence of gods on account of there being Vedic statements in support of either side. 'Sa eşa yajñāyudhi yajamāno'ñjasā svarga-lokam gacchati' (The sacrificer with sacrifice as his weapon decidedly goes to heaven), 'Apāma somam amặtā abhūma aganma jyotir a vidama devān, kim nūnam asmān kặnavad arātih kim u dhūrtir amặta martyasya'* (We drank soma and became immortal; we approached light and knew the gods. What possibly, oh Immortal One, could the enemy do to us; of what efficacy is the cunning of mortal men? —RV. 8.48-3) --- such Vedic statements lead us to recognise the existence of gods in heaven. On the other hand, we find a statement like 'Ko jānāti māyopamān girvāṇān Indra-Yama-Varuņa-Kuberādīn' (Who knows the existence of gods like Indra, Yama Varuna, Kubera who are Maya-like ?). But the truth is that Mauryaputra did not know the true meaning of these statements which Mabāvīra explained to him later on to dispel his doubt (1864-1866).
Mauryaputra's argument to prove the non-existence of gods is as follows: The denizens of hell undergo great torture and are dependent on a number of factors, so it is understandable that they cannot come to the earth. Hence we should l'ecognise their existence even relying on the words of others if we cannot perceive them. But the gods are said to have the freedom to go wherever they like and to have celestial powers and yet
*The text in the printed edition of Ganadharavāda is corrupt. The meaning given is according to the correct text.
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