Jain Journal 1971 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 81

APRIL, 1971
185
are a greater fool than that wood-cutter.” “How, a greater fool, Sir ?” "Pradesi, certain persons, desirous of getting fuel, having taken the fire and a fire-pot entered a forest. Then those persons, came up to such a place where there was no human dwelling. There the rest said to one of them, : 'We shall now enter the forest in search of fuel and you (remain here and) prepare our food, taking fire from the fire-pot. If the fire from that fire-pot gets extinguished, you may prepare food for us by taking fire from this wood.' Then they departed. A little later that man went to that place where there was the fire-pot but saw the fire extinghished. Then he went to the place where there was that wood, and observed it on all sides, but saw no fire therein. Then, he took an axe, and cut that wood into two but saw no fire there. He then, cut it into three, four and a number of pieces but saw no fire. Then that man being fatigued, gloomy, tired and dejected threw the axe and sat down brooding. When those persons who went for fuel returned and saw his plight were amazed. One of them took an axe, prepared a stick then churned that wood and struck fire and prepared their food. After they had taken their food and rested they said thus to that man : 'You Beloved of the gods, are dull, foolish, ignorant and so uninstructed that you desire to see fire in wood by cutting it into two, three and a number of pieces. Due to this reason, O Pradesi, I said : 'O Pradesi, you are a bigger fool than that wood-cutter.”
Then Pradesi, the king said thus to Kesi, the young monk : “Is this proper Sir, that I should be reproached with all kinds of repruaches, blamed with all kinds of contemptuous words, such insults and taunts in the midst of such a very big assembly by you who are so shrewd, skilful, wise, clever, much-talented, well-trained, learned and instructed ?" Then Kesi, the young monk said thus to Pradesi, the king : "Do you, Pradesi, know, how many courts are there?” “Yes, I know. There are four courts: the court of the Ksatriyas, the court of the Householders, the court of the Brahmins and the court of the Sages.” “Do you know, Pradesi, modes of punishment in case of transgreesion of these four courts?” “Yes I know. One who offends the court of the Ksatriyas is deprived of his hands, feet, head or pierced with a pole or deprived of his life by one blow and his head severed from his body. One who offends the court of the householders in burnt in fire, wrapped in a bark-covering or chaff. One who offends the court of Brahmins is rebuked by unpleasant, distasteful, and disagreeable words and branded with the sign of pitcher or dog or ordered to go out of the country. One who offends the court of Sages is rebuked by unpleasant distasteful and disagreeable words.” “This you know, Pradesi, and yet you behave adversely, crookedly, antagonistically, contrarily and contradictorily towards me."...