________________ so immeasurably extended, permeates the discipline of Mabaviras order in a way no other ethical prescription does.1 This is in brief the concept of Ahimsa in Jainism. It may be mentioned that in the Patanjali Yoga. (2.30), there is an imfortant place of Ahimsa in the list of five 'Yamas'. According to Gautama dharma Sutra, ahimsa is one of the atma-samskara and it is one of the means of Salvation. Will Durant says that according to Jains, the road to release was by ascetic penances and complete Ahimsa.? Even Mahatma Gandhi had been strongly influenced by this Jain concept of Ahimsa which he accepted as the basis of his policy and life. Even the Buddhism accepts Abimsa as one of the cardinal principles. The Mahabharata speaks highly of Ahimsa: Manu, a great social philosopher does not forget to mention Ahimsa as one of the virtuese. This doctrine of non-injury to all living beings finds expression in a mystical passage in Chandogyopanisad. (3-17), where five ethical qualities, one being 'ahimsa', are said to be equivalent to a part of sacrifice of which the whole life of man is made an epitome. Jainism accepted the non-iojury doctrine and made it a leading tenet of their school. The Jain concept of Ahimsa is quite positive, and it is useful for the social development. From individual point of view, it is a social virtue as well as individual one so that there would be peace in society. Jo today's context of world tension, fear of war, hatred towards each other, Ahimsa as understood by Jaipas is an essential factor to bring about peace and sane social order in the world. Thus, Jajo concept of Ahimsa is a great contribution to Indian thought in particular and world thought in particular for the purpose of bringing about sane social order and world peace. - राष्ट्र की रक्षा के लिए ऐसा कोई कार्य नहीं है जो जैनी न कर सकता हो / जैनियों के पुराण तो युद्धों से | भरे पड़े हैं; और उन युद्धों में अच्छे-अच्छे अणुव्रतियों ने भी भाग लिया है / __पद्मपुराण में लड़ाई पर जाते हुए क्षत्रियों के वर्णन में निम्नलिखित श्लोक ध्यान देने योग्य हैं : सम्यग्दर्शनसम्पन्न: शूरः कश्चिदणुव्रती / पृष्ठतो वीक्ष्यते पत्न्या पूरस्त्रिदशकन्यया / / किसी सम्यग्दृष्टि और अणुव्रती सिपाही को पीछे से पत्नी और सामने से देव कन्याएं देख रही है / स्वामी रामभक्त के लेख 'जैनधर्म में अहिंसा' से उद्धृत ___वर्णी--अभिनन्दन-ग्रन्थ 10 सं 131 / 1. 2. 3. 4. Vide. The Doctrines of the Jainas, by Walther Schubring, page 301. The Story of Civilisation-Vol. I, page 421. Santiparva-(340-89). Manusmriti 5-44-48. आचार्यरत्न भी देशभूषण जी महाराज अभिनन्दन अन्य Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org
