________________ 115-121 ] English Translation 19 nature of the faith-the essence of the doctrine of the Faith of the Jina--as follows:(115). "The protection of the six groups of living beings verily constitutes Religion. It is with this reason that the vow of abstinence from harm to living beings is placed first among the five Great Vows." (116). It is said in the Das'avaikalika--"The following has been pointed out by Mahaviraswami as the first religious item, viz., a complete abstinence from injury, which is nothing else but a selfrestrained action regarding all living beings." (117). It is also observed in Upades'amala--"A man devoid of compassion towards the six groups of living beings is neither an initiated monk nor a house-holder; he becomes fallen from duties of monks; he is also fallen from the religious duty of (virtuous) householders viz. charity." (118). On hearing these words of the great sage which were similar to the rumbling of clouds, the peacock in the form of the mind of the queen obtained extreme satisfaction and joy. (119). When the requisite number of pregnancy days was over, the queen, who had all her desires in pregnancy satisfied, gave birth to an excellent son on an auspi. cious day at an auspicious moment. (120). On that occasion then there was sounded the
