Syadvada Manjari

Author(s): Mallishenacharya, F W Thomas
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas

Page 67

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F. W. Thomas, Mallisena's Syadvādamañjarī
in due course attainment of beatitude. And to this effect His Holiness, the author of the Panca-ling":
"Even if for the building of a Jain temple there takes place destruction of souls in earth- particles, etc., (80)
In regard to them also there is inevitably compassion in a person of right views! Since, thereby enlightened, people freed from passion protect earth (souls), etc.,
Thence attaining Nirvana through not having harmed the future lives of those. Like the skilled acts of a good physician, such as cutting the veins of a sick man. The operation, although involving hurt, is, as it were, blessed in its result."
But in the carrying out of Vedic killing we see no virtue conducive to acquisition of merit. But, if it is said, 'There actually is a special virtue, with consequent merit, through giving sacrificial cakes, etc., to Brahmans', - No! There can be acquisition of merit only by giving pure gold, etc.: gift of flesh resuiting from disposing of a throng of wretched animals manifests merely want of feeling. Or, if (we say), the fruit of the act of slaughtering the animals is not the mere donating, but good fortune, etc., as the Sruti says: "Let one who desires good fortune lay hands on a white goat dedicated to Vayu" 16), etc., this also is simply without authority. because devoured by the exception-demon; and because good fortune is attainable by other devices also. Or, if it is said that "To the goats, etc., which are slain at that Sattra-sacrifice there is actually benefit in the form of attaining a good destiny after death', that is mere verbiage, because of lack of proof. For those slain animals do not, with minds delighted by attaining a good state of existence, come and report to anyone that they are in such a condition.
'Well - there is the means of proof called Scripture; as: "Herbs, domestic animals, trees, lower creatures, also birds, who have for the sake of the sacrifice gone to death attain again elevation" 17), etc.', - Not so! because that will be refuted by the question as to personal or non-personal (authorship). (81)
Nor should it be said: 'For those who carry out the cutting up of the animals with Srut ritual there is benefit 18), namely attainment of heaven'. For, if by hurt also there should b attainment of heaven, then for very certain the arched petals of the city of hell are closed since attainment of heaven by butchers, etc., would follow. And thus reads the great Rṣi:
"If, having cut a sacrificial post, having slain animals, and made a puddle of blood, Thus one gets to heaven, whereby does one go to hell?" 19)
Moreover, if even by the hurting of animals, unknown, of unclear intelligence, and unserviceable, there is attainment of the station of the Third Heaven, then it follows that by killing mother and father, well-known, clearly intelligent, in the highest degree beneficial, sacrificers would attain a still higher station. But, if it is said, 'Because of the statement, "inconceivable indeed is the potency of jewels, mantras, herbs, ete." 20), the Vedic mantras are of inconceivable potency, and so on the slaughter of animals thereby consecrated attainment of heaven is a possibility', No! Since in this world we observe the failure of those mantras in the case of rites of marriage, conception, birth, etc., their failure in regard also to heaven, etc., which are
15) A work by Jinesvara-suri in Gatha verse, with commentary by Jinapati-süri, vv. 58-60 (M. L.). 10) Taittiriya-samhita, II. i. 1.
17) Included in Hemacandra's Yoga-sastra (M. L.).
18) The matter of benefit, in present or future lives, from offering sacrifices, etc., is treated by Kumārila in Sloka-värttika, XVII, trans. pp. 375 sq.
19) The passage, quoted in the Mathara-vṛtti on the Samkhya-kärikā.
20) Source of quotation untraced.