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166
JAIN RAMAYAN
"Oh king! what is this improper thing you are doing? How violent it is to kill animals!" Narad said this looking at the king with fixed eyes.
"Oh divine sage! Don't you know this? This is a supreme Yajna which is considered to be very auspicious. How can there be any impropriety or calamity in this ?" King Maruth said this, glancing at Narad with indifference.
"But why are animals necessary for a Yajna?"
"Cattle have to be sacrificed to propitiate the gods presiding over the Yajna and in whose honour the Yajna is being performed".
"Oh you sinner! If this is not improper what else is? It is not merely an act of impropriety but also a dreadful sin to kill dumb animals". Narad said this angered by the King's attitude of indifference.
"But why are you agitated over this? The animals that are sacrificed to the gods reach heaven and the gods also will be pleased and propitiated."
"Who gave this absurd advice? How can animals attain heaven when they are sacrificed at a Yajna? If that is so, why don't you offer yourself as a sacrifice and propitiate the gods? Don't you desire to go to heaven?"
Hearing the angry words of Narad, those who were there. shivered with fear. They felt that the ground beneath their feet was slipping away.
Noticing that Narad was opposed to the Yajna, the king asked him: "Is it not Dharma to perform a sacrifice ?"
"No. It is not. It is sheer madness. If you really want to perform a Yajna, carry out a Yajna without committing violence".
"How can that be ?"
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