Purusharthsiddhyupay English

SR No.: 001105
Original Sutra Author: Amrutchandracharya
Author: Ajit Prasad
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1933
Total Pages: 160
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English, Ethics, & Principle
File Size: 11 MB

Page 103

40
THH SACRED BOOKS OF THE JAINAS
the destruction of many lives, one should never kill a living being of a higher grade.
Commentary.
In these 4 verses, the author meets the various excuses which are adopted by flesh-eaters.
Killing of animals for the sake of sacrifices, for the entertain. ment of guests or persons of rank, has been deprecated in verses 79, 80, and 81. In verse 82, the author meets another argument which is sometimes raised. Some people urge that the Jainas believe that there is life in all vegetables; and further that there are innumer.
e, and even infinite Jivas in some vegetables. Vegetable food would therefore lead to the killing of innumerable lives, and it would be preferable to kill one animal for food rather tlian cut up and cook a number of vegetables. This argument is misleading and false. It ignores the fact that the body of an animal has innumer. able mobile and immobile beings therein. The presence of innumerable amabæ in a drop of blood is a matter which has been proved to demonstration by science : microscopic examinations also show the presence of infinite germs in fæces, urine, and in all parts of the body. Thus there is comparatively speaking the least Himsa in injuring the motionless one-sense living beings belonging to the vege table kingdom. The higher the number of vitalities possessed by a Jiya, the greater is the Himsa in killing it. रक्षा भवति बहूनामेकस्यैवास्य जीवहरणेन । इति मत्वा कर्तव्यं न हिंसनं हिंस्रसत्वानाम् ॥२३॥
83. Beings which kill others should not be killed in the belief that the destruction of one of them leads to the protec. tion of many others.
Commentary. This plausible argument is often raised by sportsmen. They defend hunting on the ground that by doing so they protect humanity from the ravages of ferocious animals. The wanton shooting of birds and fowls, of pig and fox, of deer and rabbit, and fishing are obviously indefensible. Lion hunt is a pastime. The hunters go in large parties for the excitement of sport, and not for freeing man. kind from the possible attack of the lion. In fact, the poor lion is beaten and brought out from his seclusion for being shot at for the