Monk and Monarch

Author(s): Vidyavijay
Publisher: Deepchand Banthia

Page 75

fr
Al-Badaoni also says, And Samanas13 and Brahmans (who, as far as the matter of private interviews is concerned, gained the advantage over everyone in attaining the honour of interviews with His Majesty and in associating with him, and were in every way superior in reputation to all learned and trained men for their treatises on morals and on physical and religious sciences and in religious ecstacies, and stages of spiritual progress and human perfections) brought forward proofs based on reason and traditional testimony for the truth of their own and the fallacy of our religion, and inculcated their doctrine with such firmness and assurance that they affirmed mere imagination as though they were self-evident facts, the truth of which the doubts of the sceptic could no more shake. "
46
"I
Abul Fazl also writes, His Majesty cares very little for meat and often expresses himself to that effect. It is indeed from ignorance and cruelty that, although various kinds of food are obtainable, men are bent upon injuring living creatures and lending a ready hand in killing and eating them; none seems to have on eye for the beauty inherent in the prevention of cruelty but makes himself a tomb for animals. If His Majesty had not the burden of the world on his shoulders, he would at once totally abstain from meat.
""
So also Dr. Vincent Smith notes the following thoughts of Akbar:- "Men are so accustomed to eating meat that, were it not for the pain, they would undoubtedly fall on to themselves.'
11
"From my earliest years, whenever I ordered animal-food to be cooked for me, I found it rather tasteless and cared little for it. I took this feeling to indicate the necessity for protecting animals, and I refrained from animal-food.
"
"Men should annually refrain from eating meat on the anniversary of the month of my accession as a thanks-giving to the Almighty, in order that the year may pass in prosperity.
"
"Butchers, fishermen, and the like, who have no other occupation but taking life, should have a separate quarter, and their association with others should be prohibited by fine.
"