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68
Jaina Acara : Siddhānta aura Swarupa
The hunter's life is none too easy. His horse at times has to run at a terrific speed. Passing through narrow tracks, he may dash his head against stones. At other times hunger and thirst may assail him; heat and cold may oppress him or he may feel dead tired. Thorns may prick his feet or he may have to swim or cross ponds and rivers. He has to face wild bears, elephants, pigs, lions, tigers, and even a cobra. There may be a forest-fire enveloping all surroundings when his life may be at stake. In a forest he loses the track with no guide to show the way.
None can hunt in the vicinity of hermitages. A poet makes a deer lament," O king, there are foes to fight with. Why not show your prowess there. Why all this expedition against the innocent us ? A Kšatriya is one who leaves his foe alive if he first takes a blade of grass in his mouth. We live on grass without hurting anybody. What justice is there in making us a butt of your ire ?"
Whatever violence is involved in beautification, fashion or concerning crickets and birds all come under the head of hunting which is immoral on all counts.
VI Stealing Stealing is as bad, if not worse, than other addictions. All stolen property is like eating raw mercury which causes eruptions on the body. No thief can enjoy stolen things. He is always in fear of being apprehended which will necessarily mean untold hardship for the family. His own life remains endangered. He loses self-respect and society spurns him. Stealing starts with petty things but ends in burglary. It all the time works like slow poisoning of the body. It has rightly been denounced as unsocial, as a national crime and against humanity in general. Lord Mahāvira said, "Take nothing that is not your own, not even a straw to rake your teeth, unless permitted. You have no right to misappropriate things." The Vedas and Christianity hold the same view.
There are thieves because of avarice. What is not theirs , they want to possess. There is no charity unless experssly given. They cause social unrest and anxiety. It is a great evil sanctioned by none. This is utter forgetfulness of social duties and responsibilities. A conscientious person will gladly sacrifice his life, if need be but would not stoop to steal. You may steal things in the absence of the owner or craftily even in his presence.
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