z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 05.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 392
392 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
- “Slay not, nor doom to death, nor sanction slaughter. Do no violence to aught that lives—strong or weak.
IV
“No layman, wittingly, should thieve, or order theft, or sanction any theft,—take but what others give.
“And shun incontinence as ’twere a pit of fire, or, failing continence, debauch no wedded wife.
“In conclaves, courts, or talk let him not lie; let him not prompt or sanction lies—let him renounce untruth.
“Layman, observe this law: Shun drink; make no man drink; sanction no drinking. Mark how drink to madness leads.
“Through drink fools sin, and egg lax brethren on to sin. So flee this maddening vice, this folly, bliss of fools.
“Slay not, nor steal, nor lie; from strong drink keep away; refrain from lechery; touch not wrong meals at night !
“Eschew both scents and wreaths; spread on the ground thy bed; so make thy sabbath vows as week succeeds to week, and keep with pious hearts this eightfold festival.
“At morn, these vows performed, with pious, thankful heart be wise and of thy means give Almsmen food and drink.
“Cherish thy parents well; follow a righteous trade. Thus shall the layman staunch reach realms of light above.
§ 5. One Need Not Wait for a Companion to Tread on the Path of Righteousness
An elephant in battle bears the arrow at him hurled, I must bear men’s bitter tongues for every evil in the world.
Tamed, they lead him into battle; tamed, the king his back ascends; tamed, is he the best of beings when no bitter speech offends.
Good are well-tamed mules, and good are