Jain Journal 2008 01 No 03

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

Page 10

114
JAIN JOURNAL: VOL-XLII, NO.3 JANUARY, 2008
“The consequences which may ensue from speaking asatya are dwelt on by Hemacandra. A liar may have his tongue and an ear cut off, may be beaten and imprisoned, treated with contumely, and deprived of his possessions. In another incarnation he may be afflicted with dumbness, speach defects, and foetid breath. Wilful calumny in particular is the root of endless miseries. On the other hand, one who always speaks the truth will, so popular belief avers, never be beaten by a serpent.”
The Jain monks further reiterate that men, without any rhyme or reason, intentionally or unintentionally, or without any cause, take resort to untruth (asatya). It is seen that falschood has become a part and parcel of their life; as a result, people have lost faith in themselves, the consequences being quarrel and hatred, controversy and disputes, and injury and killing are constantly engulfing the society. That is why, the Jains consider that men should always speak the truth, behave truthfully, and live a life perfectly ir. consonance with the truth. According to the Jains, if a person lives an honest life accompanied by truth, he will be free from violence (himsā), greed (lobha), anger (krodha), fear (bhaya) and what not. That is why, the Jains emphasize that men should always take resort to truth, so that his life may be pure and serene. This rule of morality is not only meant for the monks and nuns, but also for the laitz.
The next moral fibre which the Jains preach is asteya which means 'abstaining from stealing'. In many Jaina texts theft is considered as one of the seven calamities (vyasanas). In the Ratna-karanda (III. II), as quoted by Williains at page 83, the definition of theft is given as--
nihitam vā patitam vā su-vismsiam vā parasvam avissșțam /
na harati yan na ca datte tad-akyśa-cauryād uparamaņam //
“Not taking the property of others whether pledged or dropped or completely forgotten unless it has been given, the enjoyment of that unearned property is due to theft”.