Jain Journal 1980 01

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

Page 31

JANUARY, 1980
In this light it is plausible that ghee should be sprinkled on the fire to incite it so that the entire fuel in it is burnt out once for all and there remains in it no further possibility of combustion and consequently it results in an absolute and permanent extinction.
Here the figure called "virodhābhāṣa" (paradox) has been used in which there is a perfect internal harmony of ideas in spite of an apparent discordance. Another such paradoxical statement in the Uttarājjhayaṇa itself is
chandam nivohena uvei mokkham ase jaha sikhiya vammayārī.
103
"By putting restriction upon free movements one attains freedom as a horse well trained and armoured." Here the ideas "putting restraint upon free movement" and "attaining freedom" are apparently discordant. But they are in perfect internal harmony since a trained horse does not move in the battle-field in a wayward manner. On the contrary he keeps himself in perfect discipline and thereby comes out unhurt from it. In the same way persons who keep their wayward passions in control attain freedom from the bondage of birth and death. Poetry of the Siddhas and the saint poets of Hindi abounds in such paradoxical expressions. Kabira says, "a mountain is hidden behind a mustard seed". A seventeenth century English Poet John Donne, in a holy sonnet, puts forward very bold concepts of paradoxical nature which are almost similar to the latter citation from the Uttarajjhayaṇa. He addresses God and says:
"Take me to you, imprison me, for I
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me."
Here the ideas of becoming free on being enthralled and becoming chaste on being ravished are apparently discordant. But in the context they have a perfect internal harmony. In the same way the ideas of final extinction and blazing brightly, in the verse under discussion though apparently discordant, have a perfect internal harmony for a blazing fire can burn all the fuels quickly and completely so much so that the dossibility of further combustion being exhausted the state of final extinction is achieved.