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[The Previous Lives of Lord Mahavira
they reached Tungagiri they tried to find out the lion. On his way to the den of the lion, Triprishthakumara said to his charioteer Has the lion got any conveyance ?' 'No sir, said the charioteer, the lion has got no conveyance, he is one of the fearful beasts that roam in the forest, who is going to supply a conveyance to a beast ?' When prince Triprishtha came to know of this he said to his brother, Achala kumara "Brother, we are Kshatriyas and as such we cannot make use of a conveyance at the time of attacking our enemy, the lion, when he himself walks on foot." It is both against state-craft and religion. We too should therefore leave our chariots and pursue the lion on foot. Prince Achala agreed with him on this point and both of them left the chariot then and there. The charioteer requested them again and again not to do so but it was all in vain, and he had to stay behind in utter helplessness.
The Princes proceeded on their way. They had not gone very far when Triprishthakumara said to his brother Achala, 'Has the lions any weapon with him' ? 'No not at all' said Achala, 'the lions are beasts of prey, who is going to give them weopns.' To hear these words from his brother. Triprishtha Kumara felt a strong hatred for the weapons that he was holding in his hands. He was filled with disgust for his own power and strength. He therefore hurled aside all the weapoms at once and said to his brother, 'Brother, is this really the manliness and bravery of man? Do our statecraft and religion teach that an armed warrior should attack the unarmed one? Have we lost the dignity of the Kshtriyas so that we should attack the unarmed (beasts) with our weapons and then take it for an act of valour? Fie upon such vain
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