Mahaviras Word

Author(s): Walther Shubring
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 53

Mahāvira's Words by Walther Schubring
lotus; [he could go) neither backwards nor forwards. In the middle of the lotus pond he got 7. stuck in the sludge, the first man. Then (comes) a second man. A man came here from the
south to that lotus pond, and when he stood still ... he saw that large lotus ... how it ... (stood there]; at the same time he saw that one man: '[look here) he is away from the bank, [but] he does not have the wonderful lotus; [he can go) neither backwards nor forwards; in the middle of the lotus pond he is stuck in the sludge.' Then the man said this [to himself]:S "[to me) this is indeed an ignorant, inexperienced, unlearned, uneducated, unwise, imprudent man, (one) who is not on the [right] path, one who does not know the [right] path, who does not know how one goes on the (right) path and proceeds forwards. If this man thinks he is an expert ... man, who would be on the [right] way, one who knows the [right] path, who would know how one ... proceeds forwards, (and if] he (therefore] wants to pluck that wonderful lotus-truly, one cannot pluck this wonderful lotus in the way this man thinks.
[But] I am an expert ... man, who ...knows how one ... proceeds forwards. I want to ... (like 8. 6 above, until) he got stuck in the sludge, the second man.' Then (comes) a third man. A man from the west came here to that lotus pond, and... at the same time saw those two men, how they were away from the bank, [but] not having the wonderful lotus; (they could go] neither backwards nor forwards; in the middle of the lotus pond they were stuck in the sludge.' Then the man said this to himself]: '[to me) they are indeed ignorant ... men, they are not ..., they do not know ..., they do not know how one ... proceeds forwards. If these men think they are experts ..., men who would be ..., who know ..., who would know how one ... proceeds forwards, and if they (therefore) want to pluck...-truly, one cannot pluck
this wonderful lotus in the way these men think. (But] I... (like 7 above, until) ... he got 9. stuck in the sludge, the third man.' Then (comes) a fourth. A man from the north came
here to that lotus pond, and ... at the same time saw those three men, how they ... (like 8
above, until) he got stuck in the sludge, the fourth man.' 10. Then came from some main or side route a monk here to this lotus pond, one who was
used to a plain (diet), who aspired for the hereafter, an expert ... [monk] who knew how one
The text says "to that man", but evidently the first man is not addressed, and the words are also omitted in the next two cases.
"It may be said in general of Indian cosmography ... the north symbolizes health and salvation (moksa, nirvana)" Hiltebeitel 1978, p. 783, (WB).