Lord Mahavira Vol 01

Author(s): S C Rampuria
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

Page 69

60
Lord Mahâvira
The days and nights that pass never return. They bear fruit for him who in dharma abideth.
Therefore, give thyself to dharma before thou aileth in age and thy sickness swelleth and thy senses wane.
For whenever ye die and leave pleasures sweet behind, dharma alone and nothing else on earth can save ye then.
Of Brahmana
One does not become a Sramana by tonsure, nor a Brahmana by Om nor a Muni by living in the forest, nor a Tapasa by clothing himself in a rainment of Kusa.
One becometh a Sramana by equanimity, a Brahmana by a life of abstinence, a Muni by knowledge, and a Tapasa by penance.
Therefore, by acts one becometh a Brahmana or a Ksatriya, or a Vaisya, or a Sudra.
Him I call a Brahmana who thoroughly knoweth living organisms whether they move or move not, and killeth them not in thought or word or deed.
Him I call a Brahmana who speaketh not a lie in anger or in fun or out of lust or fear.
Him I call a Brahmana who taketh not a thing unless given, be it sentient or insentient small or big.
Him I call a Brahmana who ceveteth not, and liveth unattached and hath no house nor property and hath no friendship with house-holders.
Him I call a Brahmana who delighteth not in birth nor aggrieveth, in death but endeareth the teachings of the aryas.
Him I call a Brahmana who is exempt from love, hatred and fear, and shineth like gold purified in fire, or tested by black stone.
Him I call a Brahmana who is not defiled by leiasures like a lotus that grows in water but is soaked not in it.
Those who posses these good qualities are Brahmans and the best. They are able to save themselves and save others.