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JANUARY, 1982
123
recipient of the gold-transforming stone first became amazed and then by a sudden realisation that dawned in him about the transcendental truth dropped it down in the river and with tears in his eyes begged to the benefactor only a farction of the 'treasure that enabled him to neglect even the parasmaņi, obviously the giver of all wealth.
je dhane haiyā dhani manire māna nā mani
tahāri khānik mägi āmi nata šire
eta bali nadi nire phelila māņik
“With the very treasure being rich Any gem thou dost not beseech Only its bit give me better I beg with lowering head' This he hardly said and threw the gem in river water.
In another poem entitled Parašpāthar contained in the Sonār Tari (literally the Golden Boat) Rabindranath again presents a story as an allegory on the stone. He tells about an ascetic who wandered in bleak landscapes and along the shores of the ocean in quest of the paraspāthar. Everytime he picked up a pebble or a piece of rock he hopefully touched it to an iron chain that he kept bound on his waist to obtain the expected result. After attempting for half of his life he unknowingly got his chain transformed into gold what had been pointed out by a village boy. With deep remorse and disappointment for not being attentive at the moment of discovery the wild recluse now exhausted and laden with age became prepared to retrace his steps and dedicate the remaining years of his life in search of the gem that remained somewhere on the borders of illusion and reality. The sceptic may feel that the parašmaņi so myth-bound for its quality does not actually exist though its significance as a symbol will remain beyond controversy. As if in conformity with its name Philosopher's stone it subtly refers to the charisma and magnetic glory of saints who were capable to convert the dross in man into pure gold, scientillating and without blemish. In this perspective one may wonder whether the word paraś (lit, touch) had been originally derived from the name of Parsva or Pra 23rd Tirthankara who being a historical figure in all liklihood preceded Vardhamana Mahavira. As it is known, the worship of Lord Parsva
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