z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 06.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 430
430 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Blessed Lord said, “What think you, Nigrodha? If these things be so, is the austerity of self-mortification carried out, or is it not ?” “ Truly, Lord, if these things be so, the austerity of self-mortification is carried out.” V
“Now I, Nigrodha, affirm that austerity by self-mortification thus carried out, involves blemish in several ways.”
“In what way, Lord, do you affirm that, blemish is involved ? ”
“In case, Nigrodha, when an ascetic undertakes a course of austerity, he through that course, becomes self-complacent, his aim is satisfied. Now this, Nigrodha, becomes a blemish in the ascetic.
“And then again, Nigrodha, when an ascetic undertakes a course of austerity, he, through that undertaking exalts himself and despises others. This, too, becomes a blemish in the ascetic.
“And again, Nigrodha, when an ascetic undertakes a course of austerity, he, through that undertaking becomes inebriated and infatuated, and grows careless. This, too, becomes a blemish in the ascetic.
“And again, Nigrodha, when an ascetic undertakes a course of austerity, it procures for him gifts, attention and fame. Thereby he becomes complacent and his aim is satisfied. This, too, becomes a blemish in the ascetic.
“And again, Nigrodha, by the winning of gifts, attention and fame, the ascetic exalts himself and despises others. This, too, becomes a blemish in the ascetic.
“And again, Nigrodha, by the winning of gifts, attention and fame, he becomes inebriated and infatuated, and grows careless. This, too, becomes a blemish in the ascetic.
“And again, Nigrodha, when an ascetic undertakes a course of austerity, he comes to make a distinction in foods, saying: ‘This suits me; this doesn’t suit me. The latter kind he deliberately rejects. Over the former he waxes greedy and infatuated, and cleaves to them, seeing not the danger in them, discern