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The servants moved the log away from the pyre with the help of sticks. They quenched the fire and one of them carefully split the log.
Hermit—"Prince ! Please don't interfere in my penance."
Parshva—"You call it penance ? Can a religious practice where living beings are killed be called penance? Just see how many living beings you are destroying in the name of penance.”
By that time the servant had split the log and a partially burnt snake came out of it. Half of its body had severe burns. In intolerable agony it was writhing around on the ground.
Prince Parshva pointed at it—"See ! Such a large snake was burning in your pyre. Is that you religion? Do you call it penance ?"
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