Jain Journal 1977 07

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

Page 15

JULY, 1977
Mid his garlands of imperial jewels, O, sun-bright marvels!
Nearby to the palace of the bride, Captive animals wailed at the roadside. Aristanemi said, "Stop! Nor truth betray, Why the wailing on my wedding day?" The driver said, " "Tis only animals, they will be Thy wedding feast, slaughtered freshly." For an eternal moment
The sun-bright bridegroom beheld the innocent: Goat in red and dripping blood, Cow buffalo in motherhood,
Bullock in limping ruin
And a teary voice in raw lambskin.
Aristanemi said, "Not in my remembered times Did I behold prisoners without crimes,
But now I behold my straight forward duty." And the strong-willed hand of the Lord-to-be Put down the bars of the slaughter pen
And the animals plodded out toward sunrise again.
Now Aristanemi stood on the road
In self-communion deep and shadowed.
66 If I cause death to a living being,
....
What shall be my suffering
In this life or in life to come
When retribution bears its fruit of venom? ..."
Krsna rode up, his lip was hot.
"Move on! The bridal knot Awaits the hand of the bridegroom! Move on, I say, let the mirth resume!"
Aristanemi held unmoved and cool. "My Cousin-Brother, ye claim to rule Yet everyday experience is teaching me Death rules, and his prime minister is misery. Alas, food-animals in a slaughter pen Bring blood tears to iron men Even as their wailing for protection Churns up the deeper question:
Food-animals suffer by reason of their body birth, Yet who in the body is spared on this suffering earth?"
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