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JAIN JOURNAL
tree laiden with fruit. One feels like felling them down with arrows. And who would not like to pluck those flowers and make garlands for his beloved. But Prince Vardhaman ordains otherwise.
Sumitra :
But why, why all this? What injury there is in plucking fruit and flowers ?
Vijaya :
But Prince Vardhaman thinks otherwise. He says trees have life; they have feeling. If you strike at them, you cause injury to them. Only inanimate objects should be the target of your marksmanship.
Sumitra :
Stones alone are such inanimate objects. But if you strike at them, you will blunt your own arrows. If you cannot shoot at a flying bird, if you cannot kill a ferocious animal, of what use is your archery ? Bows and arrows will cease to be weapons ; they will become mere decorations.
Vijaya :
Once Prince Vardhaman said something more startling.
Sumitra :
What was that ?
Vijaya :
He said that there are always five targets before you. You cannot strike even one of them. Try to aim at them.
Sumitra :
What are those five targets ?
Vijaya :
Those five targets are non-violence, truth, non-stealth, non-acquisition and celibacy.
Sumitra :
They are
(Laughter] So these are your five targets. invisible. How can one aim at them.
Vijaya :
Sumitra! You cannot understand. Anybody can aim at a visible object. For aiming at those five invisibles, you require different arrows from a different armoury.
Sumitra :
So tell me those different arrows from armoury.
a different
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