DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1039
it away because I came from Heaven to the dust below. I shall only justify a Brahmin using the Jeneu if he is following all those great ideals which are enumerated in the Gita.
अभय, अहिंसा, अस्तेय, आर्जवम्
(fearlessness, non-violence, not to commit theft and straightforwardness) etc. Otherwise there is no good having a Jeneu and doing all sorts of things.
The point is whether we are competent to make any changes, the whole history of Hindu society shows that it is continually progressing from stage to stage. Otherwise how do you explain the numerious Smritis, one Smriti laying down one thing and another Smriti another ? How do you explain this ? Society is continuously progressing and something has got to be found which is appropriate to the Sadachara or Vyavahara Dharma. And the definition of Sanatana Dharma, as given by a great Shastri is :
सनातन: नित्य नूतन:
[The eternal is always new.]
Change is the watch-word of Nature. Change or perish. We have a progressive society and it is a dynamic society, as was pointed out by Dr. Mookerjee and so we must continuously adapt ourselves to the changing circumstances. Of course, that does not mean that there is nothing steady or nothing stable.
Pandit Maitra : Where in Sanskrit literature is the word Sanatana defined as the Hon. Minister has just now given out ? Sanatana means……
सदाभव इति सनातन : It means eternal.
That is the etymological meaning of the word. That is the grammatical meaning of the word.
Shri Gadgil : I am not prepared to accept the grammatical interpretation of the word Sanatana.
Shri Bhatt : Kaka Sahib can have his own interpretation.
Shri Gadgil : That is not of lesser importance. Kaka Sahib also knows some Sankrit. The point is through out history, there is the Hindu community the tendency to progress. Why should we stop now ? Modern conditions require that changes should be effected by legislation and not by custom. If to-morrow something else is required, the leaders of the day, through the Legislature, will effect that change. I agree that this a matter which must be considered in an atmosphere of calmness and understanding. If we agree that there are certain evils, why should