“And if in the Veda several passages contain this
doctrine of punishment, they must have been treacher‐
ously interpolated by the weak as
are quite out of
harmony with the chief tenet
faith. When the Rig
Veda says that, although th
is the Brahman,
it is a fact th
od recognises humankind to be the most
fully penetr
same
ent it
also be recognised that, among people,
d
o
ion
nd a hindrance to the highest purpose for which human‐
ut
te of words, clear
at thieves represent the highest Truth, as they have
ade
e‐
they
the
s of
e whole world
at G
ated by that Brahman. By virtue of the
must
argum
the real and true robber is the one above and beyond all
others who is most fully penetrated by the Brahman, an
that the robber is therefore the Crown of Creation.
“But with regard to the thief who does not rise t
the level of robberhood: seeing that scripture frequently
declares the idea of ‘That belongs to me’ to be a delus
a
ity was created, it is, witho further was
th
m
it their life‐work to combat that delusion by their
daily actions. Nevertheless robbers, on account of their
violence, stand higher.
“So then, the position of the robber as Lord of
Creation has been plainly made manifest, both by logical
reasoning, from scripture and from tradition, and is ther
fore to be regarded as incontrovertible.”
78
~ 11 ~
T
HE ELEPHANT’S TRUNK
A
FTER THE FOREGOING specimen of the curious
beliefs of this extraordinary man — on whom one
could at least not lay the charge, unlike the case of so
any
ries
ence of these many adventures and new
nce was
t
at
m
other noted thinkers, that he didn’t put his theo
into practice — I resume the thread of my narrative.
*
*
*
In the pres
mental occupations (I naturally didn’t neglect the oppor‐
tunity of making the robbers’ vernacular my own) it was
impossible that the time should not pass quickly. But the
nearer it approached its end, the more my confide
shaken by oppressive fears. Would the ransom come a
all? Although the safe‐conduct given him could protect the
old servant against robbers, a tiger might have rent him in
pieces at some point on his journey, or a swollen river
swept him away, or any one of the countless unforeseen
chances of travel might have detained him until too late.
Angulimāla’s flaming glances shot so often and so evilly
me that I felt as if he were hoping for something of the
kind, and then perspiration born of pure fear broke forth
from every pore.
However wonderfully and systematically intro‐
duced, and with whatever keen logic Vājashravas’ rea‐
soned statement might be established (that in every case
81
in which the ransom was not forthcoming within the
proper time, the prisoner in question had to be sawn
through the middle with a cross‐cut saw and both parts
tossed on to the high‐road with the head towards the
rising moon) I must honestly confess that my admiration
d
e
ouragingly on the shoulder and said that the
ing
st
.
l be beheaded or impaled in
ome
ed
nd, put on a
e
for this, scientifically regarded, assuredly astounding
performance of my learned friend, was somewhat spoiled
by a peculiar sensation in my more than slightly intereste
peritoneum, particularly as the double‐toothed cross‐cut
saw used on such occasions was fetched and, to illustrat
what he said, was set in motion by two horrible‐looking
fellows, its victim for the moment being a wooden log
representing a human being.
Vājashravas, who noticed that I began to feel sick,
patted me enc
th
should not in any way concern me. From this, I
naturally believed that, in case of necessity, he would
come to my rescue for the third time. But when I, in mo
grateful words, hinted at something of the kind, he drew a
very long face and said:
“If your karma should really bear you such a
grudge as to cause your ransom to come late, even if only
by so much as half a day, then assuredly neither god nor
devil could help, for the laws of Mother Kālī are inviolable
But comfort yourself, my son, you are destined for
other things. Rather do I fear for you that one day, after a
notable robber career, you wil
s
public place. But that is a long way off yet.”
I could not say this comfort uplifted me greatly,
and so I was very relieved when, a full week before the
expiry of the allotted time, our faithful old servant arriv
with the sum demanded. I bade farewell to my horrible
host — who, remembering his slain frie
gloomy expression as though he would much rather have
had me sawn asunder — and affectionately pressed th
82