Sambodhi 2004 Vol 27

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 48

42
RAMKRISHNA BHATTACHARYA
SAMBODHI
known to be such (as in avasarpinī) in the six spokes but in the reverse order.
But already in the third spoke some radical changes in the social system are observed. Sāgara meets a snow-white elephant. This elephant is none but the reincarnation of Sāgara's friend, Asokadatta, who practised deceit on him in his former birth and hence was reborn as an elephant. However, the elephant made Sāgara, even though unwillingly, mount his shoulder.
The other twins, their eyes wide-open with astonishment, saw him, like Indra, mounted on a four-tusked elephant. Then the twins called him by the name 'Vimalavāhana' (The Whitevehicled), becaues he is seated on an elephant white as the conch, Jasmine and moon. Kmowing ethics (nīti) from recollections of former births, having the white elephant as a vehicle, naturally handsome, he became the head of all the people.
This is how the first 'head of the people came into being, almost as a miracle. No god ordained so (as the account in the Mahābhārata describes) 20 nor was the king chosen by the people themselves (as described in the Aggañña Sutta). The condition of the people, however, continued to worsen. The power of the wishfulfilling-trees steadily diminished. The wine given by the Madyangas became tasteless, scanty and slow. The Bhrngas, when asked, gave dishes reluctantly. And so was it with all the other wishfulfilling-trees. Because of this growing scarcity the evil of private property rose its head :
As a consequence of such a time, the twins (sc. the inhabitants) developed a sense of ownership in the wishfulfilling trees, as if in their own bodies. when one of them approached a wishfulfilling-tree considered his own by another, it was a great insult to the one having first claim to ownership. Then unable to endure the mutual injuries, they made Vimalavāhana their chief, with authority as lord. Knowing nīti from recollections of former births, he divided the wishfulfilling-trees and gave them to the twins, as an old man divides property among members of his family. He promulgated the law of Hakāra for the punishment of any one who crossed the boundary from desire for another's wishfulfilling-tree. As a result of his punishment with the words, "Hā : you did that wickedly," the twins did not exceed the boundaries, as waters do not exceed the bank of the ocean. In regard to the Hā-punishment the twins thought, "Better a corporal punishment, etc. than the disgrace of the Hā."
Sagara (Vimalavāhana) thus established the first moral code, and his son, Caksusmat could also maintain order and preserve the boundaries of the citizens