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Non-Violence: A Way of Life
सूरो संग्राम - सीसेवा, संवुडे तत्थ से महावीरे । पडिसेवमाणे करूसाई अचले भगवं रीइत्था ।।
[As the body of an armoured warrior remains unwounded in war, so Bhagwan Mahavira showed great fortitude even in the midst of torments.]
In the twelfth year of his initiation, Bhagwan stood in meditation under a tree on the outskirts of the town Chhammani. An incident, similar to that which had happened on the first day of his initiation, happened again. Leaving his bullocks to the care of Mahavira, a cowherd left for some work. Bhagwan Mahavira, who was in meditation, did not say anything. Taking his silence as consent, the cowherd went away. The grazing bullocks disappeared into a thicket nearby. The cowherd returned and did not find his bullocks there, asked, “O, Monk ! Where are my bullocks ?" But he got no reply. He asked second time. But Mahavira was in meditation. How could he give an answer? The cowherd's anger knew no bounds. "I have been asking so often, and you do not answer, nor do you show any other sign to reassure me about my bullocks. Are those your ears of little earthen bowls? Do you have oil poured into your ears? Those ears have done you no good, it seems. Let me fill them up." The cowherd said, and brought two straight long thorns.
The stupid cowherd pushed the nail-like thorns into the ears of the great yogi. Lest someone should pull out the thorns, he cut off their outer ends. Even then havira did not stir,
and nor did he give any other sign.
Then Mahavira went to the town, Madhyama. He asked for alms from a Bania named Siddhartha. An expert physician named Kharaka had come to Siddhartha's place. He found the
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