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CONSERVATION OF VEGETATION & JAIN PHILOSOPHY
139
It means no life being must be killed. It increases the troubles to each being as Acharanga further speaks
पाण पाणे क्लैिसंत्ति बहुदुक्खा हु जंतवो ।' It means life being harashes life being, no doubt life beings are very much in trouble. Mahavira during his journey used to take great care of all beings
पुढवि च आउकायं च तेउकायं च वायुकायं च । पणगाइं बीयह रियाई तसकायं च सव्वयो णच्चा ।।'
Vegetation has been considered as livingbeing in Jainism and its use even in daily life has been refused by way of Shravaka law. Of the fourteen such laws, first is of 'commodity conservation law, it runs as
सचित्तदव्व विग्गई, पन्नी ताम्बुल-वत्थ-कुसुमेसु । वाहण-समण-विलेवण, बम्भ दिशि नाहण भत्तेसु ।।
The economy must be practiced fully in using even flowers, dry fruits, cereals, seeds etc.
The following couplets of Acharangasutram amply describe the life in vegetation :
से बेमि इमंपि जा इघम्मयं, एयंपि जा इघम्मयं, इमंपि वुड्ढिधम्मयं, एयंपि वुढिधम्मयं, इमंपि चित्तमंतयं, एयंपि चित्तमंतयं, इमंपि छिन्नं मिलाति, एयंपि छिन्नं मिलाति, इमंपि आहारगं, एयंपि आहारगं, इमंपि अणिच्चयं, एयपि अणिच्चयं, इमंपि असासयं एयंपि असासयं, इमंपि चओवचइयं, एयंपि चओवचइयं, इमंपि विपरिणाम धम्मयं, एयंपि विपरिणाम घम्म
The vegetation is as living being as human being is. It takes birth like human beings, its body grows and feels trouble when pricked or cut with weapon. Like human being vegetation needs food. Vegetation also develops cavity like human beings.
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