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Saptashati Parva
271
The lord Bhava, the great intellect, has undertaken the great sacrifice. The gods residing in the celestial vehicles and the ancestors are in the sky-arena. \\383\\ By the illusion of the great Kala, it is clearly shown to all. O minister, you have performed this great sacrifice with great merit. \\384\\ Thereupon, the king of the earth, Vishvabhu, along with others, praised him. Narada and the ascetics, hearing this from the wicked one, \\385\\ said, "This evil path shown by the enemy is indeed condemned. He should be prevented by some means, as he is extremely learned in evil." \\386\\ Thus, all of them, coming together, went to Saketa city. Seeing the minister, the sinful men, \\387\\ solely for the sake of wealth and desire, commit the slaughter of living beings. There are none who are killers of living beings for the sake of dharma. \\388\\ The knowers of the Vedas have declared non-violence in the Vedas, established by Brahma, like a creeper of wish-fulfilling tree, or like a friend beneficial to the world. \\389\\ If you desire the authority of the previous sages' words, then this act of slaughter, which is the cause of karmic bondage, should be abandoned. \\390\\ The ascetics, who are desirous of the welfare of all living beings, said this. Hearing this, Vishvabhu said, "O ascetics, how can the act, which is seen as the direct means to attain heaven, be condemned?" \\391\\ Then the fearful of sin, Narada, said, "O wise minister, why do you desire to uproot Sagara along with his entourage, thinking it to be the means to attain heaven?" \\392\\ "This is a deceptive means, seen to yield immediate fruit. It is a delusion for the deluded, devised by some magician." \\393\\ Then he told him to follow the scriptural injunctions on ethical conduct and fasting, as proclaimed by the Agamas. Hearing this from Narada, the mountain-like (Vishvabhu) said, \\395\\ "It is heard by you through the scripture spoken by the demon. Was he not deluded by Narada even earlier?" \\396\\ "And there is no other guru except my father, who is extremely devoted to me. Is he also envious of me today for some reason?" \\397\\