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268 ] [ Lord Mahavira practises penances in Uttara-Vachala
were just in the prime of their life were more powerful and brave than Sudrishta. In their previous births they were bullocks kept by a religious man named Jinadasa. Jinadasa fed them regularly and did not exact more work from them than they were capable of doing. They were, therefore, very happy in their life. Jinadasa had made it a rule to be kind to the animals and to avoid the following five kinds of cruelties most resolutely.
1. Bandha. (Tying down )-To tie or to ask others to tie his own tamed animals.
2. Vadha (Beating )--To beat or to ask others to beat his own animals cruelly.
. 3. Chhavichchheda ( Amputation )--To amputate, to goad, and to cause injury or ask others to amputate, to goad, and to cause injury to ear, nose, tail, or any other part of the body of his own animals.
4. Atibhara ( Overload )--To exact more work from and to put heavier loads on or to allow others to exact more work from and to put heavier loads on their own animals than they are capable of doing or carrying.
5. Bhakta-pana-vyuchchheda (Non-feeding )--Not to feed the tamed animals regularly.
One day, Jinadasa was observing a Praushadha, that is, forgetting all worldly cares and refraining from the four kinds of foods, he was meditating on the self in solitude, when one of his closest friends came to him and asked him to lend his bullocks for being yoked to his own bullock-cart by which he wanted to go to a fair. But as Jinadasa was
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