Manava Dharma

Author(s): Bhurmal Shastri, Nihalchandra Jain
Publisher: Aacharya Gyansagar Vagartha Vimarsha Kendra

Page 40

18/ MANAV DHARMA
As per this statement, the Renouncer or VEETRAGI, Ascetic or Sadhu considers it a point of defamation if he accepts even the smallest piece of a cloth or a thread. Only aiming to wards self. realisation and proper maintenance of physique, an ascetic aceepts the most pure but tasteless and limited food, in a standing posture, once a day at the residence of a house-holder and that too in his both open-palms and then departs away to his lonely abode. Such ascetics are the real SADHUS, as very precisely explained by king Bharthari in the following verse -
एकाकीनिस्पृहः शान्तः कर्मनिर्मूलन क्षमः । कदाऽहं सम्भविष्यामि पाणिपात्रो दिगम्बरः ॥
The only significant result of getting a human birth is in minimising its worldly pursuits and possessions and later on, renouncing them and adopting a 'Digambar' status, while accepting or taking the food in open palms. He should practise self-realisation and be enjoying his own eternal peace and happiness. He should try his best to destroy the influence of pre-attained "Karmas" (af). Every human being must practise this path throughout his life and if he fails to attain this highest path of emancipation due to some faults or follies in worldly life, then he must become a staunch follower of such great persons, and must regard them as his highest ideals, who are on the path of Emancipation.
We generally observe that the habit of aimlessly eating, sleeping and resting and fearing or to make others fear, are equally found both in human beings and animals. Then why is the man considered better than and superior to other animals ? What is his special characteristic? In reply, it is said that the man is consciously aware as to when and what is to be renounced ? Because only in renunciation lies his dignity and prestige. The more a man renounces the worldly pursuits and possessions, the more respectable and honourable he is considered. Just see for a child, father and mother are equal and of same category; both of them rear up the child with utmost love and care. Both mother and father feel the sorrows and the pleasures along with that. of a child, but whenever he is beaten or punished slightly by some one or any calamity comes upon him, he atonce remembers or recalls the mother and not the father. why is it so ? The answer is clear. A mother serves a child and provides him with all joys and pleasures selflessly, without caring at all for her own comfort and interest. She herself sleeps in the wet but gets her child sleep in the dry. She cleans and washes the urine and filth (toilet) of her child and always keeps watchful eye on him. But the father cannot care so much.