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SUTRAKRITÂNGA.
good. What you or somebody else says, that there is a chance of a layman's ceasing to do an injury altogether, by renouncing slaughter of one kind of beings; this interpretation of yours is not right.” (13)
The Venerable One' gave an illustration : "I put a question to the Nirgranthas: O long-lived ones, (suppose) there be some men who have made the following declaration : 'I shall not inflict punishment on those who, submitting to the tonsure, renounce the life of a householder and enter the monastic state; but I shall inflict punishment on those who lead a domestic life.' Some Sramana, who for four or five years, or for six or ten years—the period may be shorter or longer-has wandered about in the land, returns to domestic life. Now answer me: does the man break his word when he puts to death this (renegade) householder ?” “Certainly not!' “It is just the same with a follower of the Sramanas, who has renounced injury to movable beings, but not to immovable ones. If he kills immovable beings, he does not transgress his vow. This you acknowledge, O Nirgranthas, this you must acknowledge!" (14)
The Venerable One gave another illustration : "I put a question to the Nirgranthas. O long-lived Nirgranthas, (suppose) there be householders or sons of householders, born in respectable families, who come to you for instruction in the Law. Ought they to be instructed in the Law?” 'Yes, they should. “When they have learned and understood this Law, will they say: this creed of the
i Gautama.
