ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 254

Ahirnsă in Smrti literature: After Upanişadas we find smrti literature. Ahimsa-himsā had been analyzed at great depth in manusmrti. 'Do not do anything for others which you do not want to be done to you' had been clearly mentioned in manusmrti. "Ātmanaḥ pratikülāni pareşāń na samāchareta
Ahiṁsā satyamasteyaṁ socaminidriya nigrahh
Danaṁ dayā damakshhāntiḥ sarveşāṁ dharma sādhana (Manusmrti)
Historically Smrti literature is followed by Sūtra literature. Gautam Rsi has indicated eight virtues of the soul namely compassion towards living beings, tolerance, not getting angry, purity, peace, non greediness etc. and those who practice these attains the BỊhmā or is born in the heavens. (Gautam sūtra 70,22,25)
Ahiṁsā in Mahakavya: After Sūtra literature, comes the great poems in Sanskrit literature, especially description of the life of supreme human being Rāma in Bālmiki's Rāmāyaṇa. Through his conduct they have indicated those virtues. In Rāmcaritmānas we find many examples of these virtues. Rāma asks his brother Lakshaman to go and acquire knowledge from Rāvan (at the time he was killed by Rāma and prior to Rāvana's death) who had stolen Rāma's wife earlier and both the brothers circumambulated his body after death. In this war Rāmcaritmānas has stressed ahimsā, speaking the truth, self restrain, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, helping the enemies, purification of the mind, body and speech.
Ved Vyās in Mahābhārat also has classified Ahimsā as supreme in both drama and artha purūsārthas and has said Ahimsa as the supreme and only human religion.
Ideal Human beings as per chapter XII of Bhāgavad Gitā which has a great importance in this chapter, Lord Krsna comes out in details as to how an ideal human being should conduct himself throughout the life. The qualities of human beings mentioned by Lord Kșsņa can be regarded as human duties charter, which is going to protect all human rights leading to happiness of all and as per chapter XVI, Lord Krsņa specified what divine qualities which every human being should cultivate.
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