Aptavani-2
397
is considered compliance of the mahavrat of non-stealing; it
does not matter whether one is an ascetic, a renunciant or a
married man, they are all worldly people.
People of ethics and high moral values do not steal; they
are not devious and they do not cheat people. They do not tell
big lies but they tell many little ones. Today however, everything
has turned rotten; including the mahavrat. So have anuvrats!
They used to be good at one time, but what can anyone do
now? Nevertheless, it is all due to circumstances. Today entire
Hindustan is in ruins, is it not? Otherwise it can never be like
this. However, no one is guilty because it has been ruined due
to circumstances.
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