Hajarimalmuni Smruti Granth

Author(s): Shobhachad Bharilla
Publisher: Hajarimalmuni Smruti Granth Prakashan Samiti Byavar

Page 1047

Prof. N. V. Vaidya Ferguson College, Poona SHRAMADANA OR
VOLUNTARY MANUAL LABOUR-THE OLD WAY
The Jain canonical as well as Non-canonical literature is a veritable mine of didactic tones, parables and illustrations. They reflect mostly the life of the common man and are narrated with a simplicity and facility which would appeal even to the Pundits and men of letters. It is proposed top oint out here only a minor incident narrated in the Antagadadagsao(si)* the eighth Anga of the Jain canon (III Varga: Page 56. section 59ff).
"...... Now as Krsna Vasudeva was going out of the city of Dwarawati he saw a man, worn out, his body shattered by age,......and weary, and who was picking up one brick at a time from among a huge pile of bricks, and was carrying it into the house. Then Krsna Vasudeva, out of compassion for the old man got down from the back of the excellent elephant he was riding took a brick from that huge pile of bricks, and carried it inside the house. Now, when Krsna took one brick, hundreds of other people did the same and that huge pile of bricks was shifted inside the house in no time".
Krsna Vasudeva thus gave a helping hand to that old man purely out of compassion and as a matter of duty. In the good old days people were taught that doing one's duty was a must for every body, like the Nityakarma (f). If you do it there is no special merit but if you fail to do it, there is sin. We find a strange spectacle to-day. If some one has done his duty there are grand ceremonies held in his honour. There is a lot of fan-fare and publicity when a very important person or a minister is attending or rather presiding over a Shramdāna () or similar function. But the manner in which Krsna a royal prince of the ancient past-has helped a poor old labourer is very touching and it leaves an indelible impression on the minds of the readers. It is untrumpeted, genuine and spontaneous Shramdana (1) giving help and succor where it is really needed.
One can multiply similar other situations and incidents. The so called courtesy weeks, Vana Mahotsava, children's Day and lots of other functions and ceremonies which seem to have been invented merely to satisfy the vanity and the insatiable craving for publicity of those in power or the upper strata of society does not impress the public. genuine Shramdan is always done spontaneously, is always untrumpeted and unadvertised and is done to give help and succor to the needy and its effect is ever lasting.
*Edited by prof. N.V. Vaidya, Ferguson College, Poona-4 with Introduction, Notes, English Translation and Appendics 1937.