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36
Sumitra :
Vardhaman :
Sumitra :
Vardhaman :
Vijaya :
Vardhaman :
Vijaya:
Vardhaman :
Sumitra :
Vijaya :
The arrow to which the Prince is referring is not to be found in any military manual.
JAIN JOURNAL
You will find it in the Dhanurveda of the Kshatriyas. Do you know the meaning of the word 'Kshatri' ?-he who can save from Kshati, from injury. He who saves others from injury is 'Kshatri'.
Then, I take it that for fear of violence, you must never have taken an aim with these mundane arrows.
Why not? I am as good a marksman as you are. I have felled many a stump of dead and dry trees. I make my own mounds of earth and aim at them. But the trees of this garden are green. They are pulsating with life. They grow, they blossom, they are fragrant, they bear fruit. How sentient they are. To strike them with arrows is downright violence. That is why I strayed far away from you in search of dry trees.
You go into metaphysical depth of everything.
[Sudden shouts from side screens: "Run! Seek shelter ! The elephant from the stable is let loose. There he has crushed to death the old man. Clear off the road. Run! Help! Help!"]
This a clarion call for help. I shall just now go and find out.
Prince, you need not take the trouble. We shall go and find out. Apparently, an elephant is let loose from the stables. He is trampling down his feet all that comes his way. He might attack you as well.
It is well he attacks me. That will save others.
That shall never happen, my Liege. Of what use are these bows and arrows if they cannot strike at the head of that rogue.
Ere he tramples men under his feet, I shall break his shin to pieces.
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