Jain Journal 1995 10

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

Page 20

GOVARDHANADASA : MAHĀTMĀ GANDHI AND KAVI RĀJACANDRA
47
is absolutely destructible or absolutely producible. Thus we can say that the Vedic, Jain and all other faiths are eternal, but this much alone does not serve our purpose. We have still to find out which of these principles are strong and sound to make us achieve our aspirations of life.
9. THE VEDAS DISCUSSED Q-Who composed the Vedas? Are they eternal? If eternal, what does
eternal mean? A.-1. It seems that the Vedas are old compositions. 2. Any scripture in the shape of a book cannot be eternal, but of
course if taken by their teachings every scripture is eternal; because there is not a single teaching which has not been announced by different people in different ways. Himsā-cult is, as old as the doctrine of Ahimsā. The thing worth-consideration is its value, i. e. how far it is useful for the living beings. Undoubtedly both are eternal, truth as well as untruth, but the thing is that sometimes the untruth takes the upperhand while at others, truth comes out triumphant.
10 THE BHAGAVAD-GITĀ Q-Who composed the Gītā? It does not appear to be composed by
god. What is the proof of its being composed by God? A.-1. The above answers will be somewhat helpful in solving these
questions provided “God” is taken to mean an all-wise and allknowing being. But if the conception of God is taken to mean an eternal, inactive and all-pervading entity like space, then, of course, it becomes quite impossible to conceive that such a God ever composed any book; because an act like the composition of a book has a beginning and whatever has a beginning cannot be
said to be eternal. 2. It is said that Gītā was composed by Veda-Vyāsa and because it
deals with the lessons given by lord Krşņa to Arjuni, so primaraly Lord Krşņa is said to be its author and this is all probable : This scripture is cerainly very nice, and whatever teachings are contained in it, they also are comming down to us from eternity. But it does not imply that its slokas were composed by an inactive God. An active embodied being alone can possibly be conceived to be their composer. In the light of the above discussion, there is no harm in believing that god is an all-wise, all-knowing Being and the scriptures containing lessons taught by Him are "God's Book" (Išvariya Sāstra).