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Kummāputta-Chariam
125
After hearing the beliefs of other religions characterized by injury to living beings, the queen who was devoted to the Religion of Jina, became extremely dejected at heart. (112)
For, let one give charities, let one observe the vow of ascetics, let one master the Veda and the like, let one always meditate on gods and the like; if one has no compassion, everything is of no avail. (113)
There can be no initiation, no begging, no charity, no austerity, no meditation, no life of sages, where there is no compassion. (114)
Then there were invited by the king the learned Doctors of Jain Faith possessed of high virtues and they began to expound the nature of the Faith—the essence of the doctrine of the Faith of the Jina--as follows :-(115)
"The protection of the six groups of living beings verily constitutes Religion. It is with this reason that the vow of abstinence from harm to living beings is placed first among the five Great Vows." (116)
It is said in the Daśavaikālika—“The following has been pointed out by Mahāvīraswāmi as the first religious item, viz. a complete abstinence from injury, which is nothing else but a selfrestrained action regarding all living beings.” (117)
It is also observed in Upadeśamālā—“A man devoid of compassion towards the six groups of living beings is neither an initiated monk nor a house-holder; he becomes fallen from duties
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