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Allegory in the English Literature
than on the tale itself. Some of the tales are only parables spun out and enlarged to form narratives. Here we find the narrator endeavouring to make his meaning comprehensible to his listeners. He condescends very low to the level of their intelligence and draws on incidents familiar to them. The chief interest of these stories is, therefore, allegorical,
The allegorical story in Jain literature stands out as a distinct category and its special feature is that the story is followed by explication of its symbols.
The story of merchant Dhanya and robber Vijay of Rajgriha is a powerful allegory on the conduct of monks.
Once Dhanya was sentenced to imprisonment for committing a minor crime. He and robber Vijay, the murderer of the former's own son, Devdaita, were fettered together. This pious merchant shared with that robber in the jail, his food packets sent to him daily by his wife Bhadrā.
Here merchant Dhanya stands for a monk. Robber Vijay stands for human body which must be given food as long as the soul is in the body. The restraint that brings the greatest happiness is comparable to the merchant's son. The right knowledge, the right faith and the right conduct are ornaments. The world is like the old garden in the story. Without being tempted by senseorgans, the monk should give necessary food to the body only to maintain it in order to practise religious vows.
The illustration of the two eggs of a peahen confirms that a monk must not entertain any doubt about the efficacy of selfrestraint. The son of Sāgaradatta who doubted whether a babe will come out of the egg symbolizes the monks and nuns who doubt whether the fivefold restraint will bring its reward. They get drowned into the ocean of saṁsāra. The son of Jinadatta symbolizes the monks and nuns who keep the five great vows with full faith in them. They ultimately attain liberation. The name of Sagardatta and Jinadatta are also suggestive. The story presents potential allegory.
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