Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 80

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We do not steal others' property. We are not unfaithful to any one. We give milk which gives excellent nourishment to human beings. Our offspring become bullocks and help farmers in their ploughing and in doing other work in fields. Even after our death our skin serves all people without any discrimination in the form of footwear. Yet for what.offence of ours does the butcher slaughter us? Kindly do justice to us! These cows, in their dumb language, are saying this to you."
Hearing this, the Emperor at once ordered that slaughtering of cows in the slaughter-house should be stopped at once. He also prescribed severe punishments for those who killed cows. But today, our free India has not made any laws to prohibit the killing of cows. Who can say that this is the same country for which Mahatma Gandhi achieved political freedom by means of a nonviolent movement?
That man is non-violent in whose heart kindness and compassion abide. Kumar Arishtanemi was the son of King Samudravijaya and Queen Shivadevi. His marriage was settled to take place with Rajimathi, the daughter of Ugrasena, the King of Dwaraka. They went to Dwaraka with all their relatives and friends.
While the chariot in which Kumar Arishtanemi sat was entering the City, his eyes fell on a cattle-shed in which some animals were kept. On enquiry, he found out that those animals were kept there to be killed and cooked for the marriage guests. On hearing this, the prince's heart was filled with compassion and pain. The marriage was the cause for this proposed large-scale slaughter! The prince thought that he was responsible for it. He requested the people there to release the animals at once. Accordingly they were set free. Then, he ordered his charioteer to drive back the chariot and said, "Now I will marry not Rajimathi but Mokshalakshmi (i.e., I will seek my salvation).
There is no divorce between the word and action of great men (mahātmas). The prince became a mendicant