Jain Journal 2004 07

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

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JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XXXIX, NO. 1 JULY 2004
conviction that death accompained by hatred and violence can never be salutary and must therefore lead to unwholesome rebirths” [Padmanabh S. Jaini : 2000: 14). Thus, Jaina approximation departs drastically from the following non-Jaina conviction: hatā vā prāpyasi svargam jitvā vā bhökşyasē mahīm!
(Bhagavad-Gītā ii. 37] Slain, you will attain heaven, conquering you will enjoy on earthli
It may be recalled that even Lakşmaņa, Krsna, Srēņika ended up their lives in hell for the himsā they had committed and reborn as human being and attain the highest status of eternal bliss by observing austerity.
2.04. Jaina literature, canonical and non-canonical, did not remain non-committal on the subject of hiṁsā. The Nisītha Gātha and other canonical texts cite such examples: "Once a group of monks had to pass the night in a forest infested with wild beasts. An exceptionally robust monk was deputed as a guard. The monk on duty killed three tigers and saved the Acārya and others. His act, though blatantly against the vow of ahiṁsā, was not condemned. According to another exception, monks were permitted to take recourse to violence, if need be, to protect nuns” [Swami Brameshananda : 1992: 249].
2.05. Jaina literature contains many accounts of the dialogues between Mahāvīra and king Srēņika. Once Srēņika asked Mahāvīra the reason for his being born in hell. Mahāvīra said to the king : Yes, it has to be. On account of your deep interest in hunting in the past you have acquired karma leading to birth in hell. And for following my path you will be born again as a human being, and just as I am the last Tīrthankara of the present phase of the time-cycle, so you will become the first Tīrthankara named Padmanābha, in the next phase. Hearing the great prophecy, king Srēņka became consoled.”
2.06. "The most famous exemplication of the nature of the Jain warrior occurs in Jinasena's description of the conflict between Bharata and Bāhubali. Bharata attempted to take over the kingdoms of his brothers which had been bestowed upon them by Rşabha. However,