________________
Rod Cod Coll
commits violence against one life-form can commit violence against all the six life-forms.
During Bhagavan Mahavir's period many parivrajaks and other mendicants used to say-"For the sake of drinking water we commit violence only against the beings living in water and not against any other beings." Similarly the Gairik and Shakya mendicants also used to say-" -"We commit violence against beings only for the sake of food and for no other purpose."
It is possible that keeping in view the mentality of such people it has been mentioned in the Agams that-when the idea of committing violence against one life-form arises in the mind of a seeker, he is capable of committing violence against other life-forms and will do so.
There is a natural affinity between water and plant life, therefore when one commits violence against water-bodied beings he is also including plant-bodied beings. Disturbance, movement and agitation of water results in violence against air-bodied beings. Such violence against water-bodied and air-bodied beings may also cause eruption of fire. Also, many types of mobile micro-organism exist in water. A water body also has sand (earth-bodied beings) in it. Thus violence against just one life-form (water) includes that against all the six life-forms. (Sheelank Tika on Acharanga)
In view of the commentator the word 'chhasu' also points at five great vows and the sixth vow of abstaining from eating after sunset. When the vow of ahimsa is violated the vow of truth is automatically violated because the ascetic had vowed to abandon violence. Breaking a vow is to go against truth. To snatch away lives of beings as a result of violence amounts to theft. Violence also means acquisition and accumulation of karmas and it may also enhance carnal desires.
Pudho vayam-This term has two meanings (1) various vows, and (2) various genuses or the world. Here both the meanings appear appropriate. He who breaks one vow breaks all the other
आचारांग सूत्र
( १३६ )
Jain Education International
For Private Personal Use Only
Illustrated Acharanga Sutra
www.jainelibrary.org
