Book Title: Jaina Philosophy Historical Outline
Author(s): Narendra Nath Bhattacharya
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi
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The Incipient Stage 83
Nami: Men frequently apply punishment wrongly, the innocent are put in prison, and the perpetrator of the crime is set at liberty.
Sakra: O king, bring into subjection all princes who do not acknowledge you, thus you will be a true Ksatriya.
Nami: Though a man should conquer thousands and thousands of valiant (foes) greater will be his victory if he conquers nobody but himself.
Sakra: Offer great sacrifices, feed śramaņas and Brāhmaṇas, give alms, enjoy yourself, and offer sacrifices; thus you will be a true Kşatriya.
Nami: Though a man should give, every month, thousands and thousands of cows, better will be he who controls himself, though he gives no alms............
Sakra: Multiply your gold and silver, your jewels and pearls, your copper, fine robes and carriages, and your treasury; then you will be a true Ksatriya.
Nami: If there were numberless mountains of gold and silver, as big as Kailāsa, they would not satisfy a greedy man; for his avidity is boundless like space............
In the aforesaid dialogue the ideals of the ruling and privileged class are beautifully stated. They wanted multiplication of their gold and silver for leading a life of pleasure and sensuality; they wanted to bring into subjection the neighbouring territories to give a show of their power; they wanted to erect walls, gates and battlements to prove that they should be in the helm of power for protecting their people; the wanted to build palaces and excellent houses in order to create a feeling of respect and admiration towards them among the peoples; and they wanted to punish thieves and robbers, cut-purses and burglars so that they might be considered as custodian of public safety. Side by side they were also interested in earning religious merit. They believed, as their modern counterparts do even today, that it could be earned by spending a fragmentary portion of their wealth in offering sacrifices, in feeding the Sramaņas and the Brāhmaņas and in giving alms. The rise of class society and state power on the ruins of tribal equality in the days of the Buddha and Mahāvira gave rise to this new set of social values.
ISBE, XLV, pp. 37-40.
