Book Title: Jains Through Time
Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

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Page 104
________________ The Jains through Time 105 and lesser violence into perspective, I would young prince back, then Kunik in like to give as an example the war between retribution could have perpetrated any kind Kunik and Raja Chetak. This was a of violence on his sibling; be that as it may, gruesome war which occurred in only one life would have been affected and Tirthankar Mahavir's time. It has been thousands of other lives could have been recorded in our religious literature. One of saved. If Raja Chetak had interpreted the the protagonists was the leader of the concept of violence and non-violence as famous Vaishali Republic, Raja Chetak, who some people do today, then he might have had taken the twelve vows of a shravak. The sent the prince back, or he could have said, other was Kunik, the Emperor of Magadh, "Young Prince, you are here now, but how who attacked Vaishali. What started the war are we going to protect you? If we try to do was the issue of the protection of a refugee. this, many of our people might die. To save Kunik had usurped his younger brother's one life, many will perish and this would be rights, seized his wealth and deprived him of an extremely violent act." But Raja Chetak his independence. The young prince, fearing did not say this. He went to war to protect for his life, fled to Chetak to seek refuge. an innocent refugee and terrible carnage When Kunik heard what had happened, he resulted. sent the following message to Raja Chetak, 'Send my brother back immediately or pay Raja Chetak had taken the twelve vows of a a heavy price for your defiance.' Raja shravak; his ability to distinguish between Chetak opted to fight to protect the violence and non-violence was extremely refugee. A fierce battle ensued and acute. He had often had the supreme thousands were killed on the battlefield. privilege of listening to the discourses of Raja Chetak himself died heroically. Tirthankar Mahavir himself. He was no ordinary king; he was the democratically Now the issue is this : If Raja Chetak had elected leader of the Vaishali Republic. In complied with Kunik's demand and sent the other words, he was one of the greatest Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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