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56
BHANUGANDRA CARITRA
and pleasing. That would move the hearts of those who are attached to worldly things. Those, however, who are above passion and worldly pleasure, are not affected by them."
To this utterance of the Man of Intellect, the Emperor gave a learned rejoinderso learned indeed that it would astonish even great scholars:-"There is nothing in itself either good or bad, meritorious or sinful, but our thinking makes it so. The mind is its own place, and can make heaven of hell and hell of heaven. A thing done with a good motive is meritorious, and the same thing done with a wicked motive is sinful. Even herein if there be any weak point, you should drive it away by means of penance just as leanness produced by fasting can be removed by eating wholesome food. As regards the duties of monks,-both general and particular-exceptions are laid down. Therefore, to accept the absolute is futile for all. Syadvada (Jaina doctrine of relativity) is applicable everywhere for those who believe in it. Absolutism for such would amount to heresy. Oh, wiseman! give up your wrong persistence and believe what I say. Enjoy pleasures to your heart's content. Would any wise man err as to his own. interests?". (305)
Having heard these words of the Emperor-words which showed his admirable grasp over the cardinal doctrine of Jaina philosophy and which contained a reprimand for him-Siddhicandra, thinking only of his duties, replied without tremour:-"All this may be all right for the ears of a coward. A man of courage and conviction never breaks a vow once he has taken it, even if his adherence to it meant certain death for him. The least deviation from the path once chosen results into utter worthlessness and failure. A very small thorn is sufficient to make a person unable to set his foot upon the earth and to walk. A thing, for expiating which penance should be performed, should be avoided once and for all. Prevention is always better than cure. Why touch the mud and then wash ourselves thorougly in order to be free from it? Why not avoid it altogether? Exceptions are meant for those who have not power enough to stick to the absolute rules. They are loop-holes through which the weak-minded seek relief from the severity and inexorableness of the absolute principles. Those who have perfect control over their minds, need not take shelter even under the doctrine of relativity. Only the weak seek to twist its meaning to suit their breaches of rule which they have not the grit to observe. The propounders of syädvada do not recognize the absolutism even of syadvada. In all my previous births, I had wives and children. There was no religion in having them. Why should I renounce religion for that mode of life? Human life is dearest to all, and so it is to me. Even if that were to be taken from me this very moment, I would not deviate even by a hair's breadth for the path of life which I have chosen for myself." (313)
Those present in the Court-Ministers and others-began to say:-"Fie upon such doggedness of this man. Though he is wise, he has been his own enemy and has brought upon himself a great calamity for the sake of a petty matter."
Siddhicandra, however, in spite of these biting remarks, remained adamantly firm.
