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That is, - Non-violence towards the living beings has been said to be the Supreme Being.
Ahimsaiņā matā mukhyā, svargamokşaprasādhani | Etatsamrakṣaṇārtham ca, nyāyyam satyādipālanam ||
- Haribhadrīya Așțaka prakaraņa. That is, - Non-violence, which is the giver of heaven and liberation, is the main thing. For being non-violent one must adhere to truth, etc.,
Comments - Here, the vow of non-violence has been said to be the main vow amongst five vows of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-possessiveness. All these vows are for upholding and protecting the vow of non-violence and they all merge into it.
NON-VIOLENCE AND THE VOWS
Ahiṁsā paramo dharmaḥ ||
- Lāti samhitā, 2.1.
That is, - Non-violence is the supreme and the most important duty (dharma).
Dhammahimsāsamaṁ natthi ||
- Bhaktaparijñā, 91. That is, - There is no duty (dharma) like non-violence; it is unique and incomparable.
Devatātithiprīyartham mantrausadhibhayāya cal Na himsyāḥ prāņinaḥ sarve ahimsā nāma tadvratam ||
- Varāngacarita, 15.112. That is, - One may not indulge in violence towards any creature even for pleasing the gods and the guests and not even on account of casting spells, medicine and fear. This is the vow of non-violence.
Trasahimsāparityāgalakṣaṇo’ņuvratā'haye ||
- Lātisaṁhitā, 5-281.
Appendices
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