Vol. 11 · pages 406–410

387 HIS SERMONS IV is given to him by them, he lives an honest life. ( iii) Putting from him all sensual misconduct, he abstains from fornication; he has no intercourse with girls under the charge of mother or father or brother or sister or relations, no intercourse with girls affianced and plighted and with the garlands of betrothal upon them. 11. “As regards righteousness in speech, ( i) a man puts lying from him and abstains from lies; when cited to give testimony before assembly or village-meeting or family council or royal household or his guild he says that he does not know when he does not, and that he does know when he does, says that he did not see when he did not see and that he saw when he did see, never deliberately lying in the interests of himself or of other people or for some trifling gain. (ii) All slander he puts from him and from slandering he abstains; what he hears here he does not repeat elsewhere so to set one set of people by the ears, nor does he repeat here what he hears elsewhere so as to set another set of people by the ears, he is a promoter of harmony and a restorer of amity, for concord is his pleasure, his joy, and his delight. ( iii) There is no bitterness in his tongue and he abstains from bitter speech; what he says is without gall, pleasant, friendly, hearty, urbane, agreeable, and welcome to all. ( iv) No tattler, he abstains from tattle, speaking in season, according to fact, always of the profitable, of the Doctrine and Rule, in speech which is seasonable and memorable, illuminating, well-marshalled, and of great profit. 12. “As regards righteousness in thoughts, ( i) a man is devoid of covetousness, never coveting other people’s gear with the yearning that it were all his own. (ii) He harbours no malevolence or wickedness of thought; his wish is that creatures around him may live on in peace and happiness, safe, from all enmity and oppression. ( iii) He is right in outlook and correct in his conceptions. 13. “This is what I mean by righteousness and unrighteousness.”

388 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV § 2. Need for Righteousness 1. Then the Exalted One addressed the lay brethren of Pataligama: 2. “There are losses, householders, which attend the wicked and immoral man. 3. “The wicked, immoral man, as the result of sloth, comes to great loss of wealth. 4. “Then again, an evil report prevails about him which defames him in the eyes of the world. 5. “Whatever company he may enter, be it a company of the nobles, or the Brahmins, or the housefathers, or a company of recluses, he enters shyly and confused in mind. He is not fearless. This is the third loss. 6. “Again, he has no peace of mind and is troubled in mind when he dies. This is the fourth loss. 7. “Such, householders, are the losses that attend the wicked and immoral man. 8. “Consider the profits which attend the righteous man who lives virtuously. 9. “The righteous man who lives virtuously comes by a great mass of wealth, due to his own exertions. 10. “Then, again, a good reputation prevails about him. He is honoured everywhere. 11. “Into whatsoever company he enters, be it of the nobles or the Brahmins or the housefathers or the recluses, he enters bold and confident. 12. “Again, he enjoys peace of mind and makes an end with mind untroubled. 13. “The fool in doing ill knows not his folly: His own deeds like a fire, the fool consume. 14. He who offends the harmless innocent soon reaches grievous disaster, or a mind distraught, loss of relations, loss of all his wealth. § 3. Righteousness and the Claims of the World 1. Once when the Lord was staying at Rajagraha in the Bamboo grove where the squirrels were fed, the

389 HIS SERMONS IV reverend Sariputta was making an alms pilgrimage with a great train of almsmen among the Southern Hills. 1 2. On his way he met an almsman who had spent the rainy season at Rajagraha. After interchange of greetings of friendliness and civility, Sariputta enquired after the Master’s health and was told he was well, as too was the Confraternity, and also the Brahmin Dhananjani of Tandula-pala Gate in Rajagraha concerning whose health too Sariputta had made enquiries. 3. ‘ And is the Brahmin, Dhananjani, zealous and earnest ?’ asked Sariputta further of the Almsman. 4. ‘ How could earnest zeal possibly dwell in Dhananjani ?’ replied the Almsman. ‘He uses the king to fleece the Brahmins and householders, and uses them to fleece the king. Also, his pious wife who came of a pious stock is dead now ; and he has taken to himself another wife who is not pious and comes of no pious stock.’ 5. ‘ This is bad news, very bad news to hear of Dhananjani’s lack of zeal,’ said Sariputta. ‘Perhaps, however, at some time and place I may meet him I should like to have a talk with him.’ 6. After staying as long as he wanted in the Southern Hills, Sariputta proceeded on his alms pilgrimage till he reached Rajagraha, where he took up his abode in the Bamboo Grove. 7. Early in the morning, bowl in hand and duly robed, he went into Rajagraha for alms, at a time when the Brahmin Dhananjani was out of the city seeing his cows milked in the byre. 8. On his return after his round and meal, Sariputta sought out the Brahmin. Seeing him coming, the Brahmin came to meet him with the remark that they had time for a draught of milk before meal-time. 9. Not so, Brahmin, I have had my meal today, and shall be resting under the shade of a tree during the noontide. Come to me there. 10. Dhananjani agreed and after his own meal joined Sariputta seating himself by him after friendly greetings. 11. Said Sariputta: “May I rest assured, Dhanan-

390 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV jani, that zeal and earnestness and righteousness are yours ? 12. “How can that be, when I have to support my parents, my wife and family, and my slaves and serving folk and have to entertain my acquaintances and friends, my kith and kin, and guests, and have also to provide for my kinsfolk dead and gone, and for the deities, and for the king not to speak of supporting myself in meat and drink ?” 13. “What think you, Dhananjani? If we suppose a man who, for his parents’ sake, has departed from righteousness and equity and is being hauled up would it avail him either to plead on his own behalf that it was for his parents’ sake that he had departed from righteousness and equity and that therefore he should not be hauled up ?” 14. “No ; despite all appeals, the wardens would cast him into prison.” 15. “Would it avail him either to plead on his own behalf, or to have his wife and family plead for him, that it was for their sake he had departed from righteousness and equity ?” 16. “No.” 17. “Would it avail him if his slaves and serving folk pleaded for him ?” 18. “Not a whit.” 19. “Or if his friends and acquaintances pleaded for him ?” 20. “Not a whit.” 21. “Or if his kith and kin, or his guests pleaded for him ?” 22. “Not a whit.” 23. “Or if his kinsfolk dead and gone, pleaded the claims of his deities, or his monarch’s claims on him ?” 24. “Not a whit.” 25. “Would it avail him to plead on his own behalf or to have others pleading for him that it was to support himself in meat and drink that he departed from righteousness and equity ?” 26. “No.”

391 HIS SERMONS IV 27. “What think you, Dhananjani? Which is the better man ? He that for the sake of his parents departs from righteousness and equity or he that no matter what happens to them walks in righteousness and equity ?” 28. “The latter,” replied Dhananjani, “for to walk in righteousness and equity is better than to depart therefrom.” 29. “Moreover, Dhananjani, there are other courses of action which are justified and righteous in themselves, whereby he can support his parents and yet avoid evildoing and walk uprightly. Now, does the same reasoning apply to the support of wife and family and everything else?” 20. “It does, Sariputta.” 21. “Hereupon the Brahmin rejoicing in what the reverend Sariputta had said, thanked him, rose up and went his way.” § 4. How to Reach Perfection in Righteous Conduct 1. Once while the Lord was staying at Shravasti in Jeta’s Grove there came to him five hundred layfollowers. One of them was Dhammika. 2. Dhammika asked the Lord : “What principles make your followers reach perfection in righteous conduct. 3. “I ask thee this question because thou art the most matchless judge of the weal of men. 4. “Trained Jains and Mendicants all failed to vanquish thee. Trained Brahmins, ripe in years—with others keen to air their point of view—are led to embrace thy saving truth. For, ‘tis thy saving Truth,— subtle, but preached so well for which all yearn. Vouchsafe an answer, Lord, to us ! 5. “Let the lay-followers learn from thy lips thy Lore immaculate !” 6. The Blessed Lord in compassion for his layfollowers said : “Give me your ear. I will explain the principles of righteous conduct. Hear and follow them.