Introducing Jainism

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 76

INTRODUCING JAINISM
62
, 'When a man does not do harm to animals by action, mind and speech, he can attain the feet of Brahma.'
yasmān nodvijate bhūtam jātu kiñcit kathañcana/ abhayam sarvabhūtebhyaḥ sa prāpnoti sadā munel/
'When an animal is never agitated by any means from anybody, that world does never feel any agitation from any animal.'
loke yaḥ sarvabhūtebhyo dadātyabhaya-daksinām/ sa sarva-yajñāirījānaḥ prāpnotyabhaya-dakşiņām/ na bhūtānām ahimsāyā jyāyān dharmo'sti kaścana//
"He who gives fearless (atmosphere) to all animals of the world, he attains no fear (from anybody) even by performing sacrifice. There is no great religion of men like ahimsā (non-injury) in the world.'
Tulādhāra79 goes on saying that “there is no higher law than forbearance towards all living beings. Therefore the breeding of cattle is cruel, because it involves the torturing and killing of animals. Cruel, too, is the keeping of slaves, and traffic in living creatures. Even agriculture is full of sin, for the plough wounds the earth and kills many innocent animals.” To this Jājali replies -
krsmā hyannam prabhavati tatas tvam asi jīvasi/ paśubhiś coşadhibhiếca martyā jīvanti vanija// tato yajñaḥ prabhavati nāstikyam api jalpasi/ na hi varted ayam loko vārtām utsrjya kevalān//
"Food is produced by agriculture, and you, too, are living on it; people live on cattle-breeding and agriculture; from that sacrifice is performed, you are talking like an atheist, people could not live alone by giving up the business of his livelihood.'
“Thereupon Tulādhāra replied with a long discourse upon the true sacrifice, which should be offered without the desire for reward, without priestly deception, and without the killing of living beings. Finally Tuladhāra calls on the birds which had nested in the hair of Jājali's head as witnesses for his doctrine, and they, too, confirm that the true religion consists in forbearance towards all human beings." 79. Winternitz, ibid., 1, p. 416-17.