________________
King Karkandu called the prominent Brahmins of the city and said
Why do you chandals?
hate
THE AWAKENING OF KARKANDU
No sire! Chandals
cannot become Brahmins.
The Brahmins could not digest this strange proposal from the king. They humbly said
Scholars! It is by his conduct and not by birth that a man is a Brahmin. Purify them by inducting them into righteous ways. Once they accept that why can't these
chandals tum into Brahmins...
Sire! Chandals belong to the lower castes.
Even to touch them is a sin.
vo
Then indoctrinate them into ways of the higher castes and make them Brahmins.
The king ordered them with a warning
75
Tren
It is my order that chandals and Brahmins should eat together. He who defies this should leave the state.
The Brahmins remained silent.
Note: A child becomes Brahmin only after the thread-ceremony that is why he is called a Dvij or twice born.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
16 www.jainelibrary.org
