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BANERJEE : JAINISM AND NON-VIOLENCE
161
In order to establish this statement the story of JājaliTuladhāra is given in which Tuladhāra has proved the excellence of ahimsā as a superior religion to anything else. Tulādhāra is the pedlar and Jājali is the Brahmanical ascetic. In this conversation Tuladhāra appears as a teacher. The Brahmin Jājali well-versed in the Sāstras has asked Tuladhāra about the essence of religion. Tuladhāra says -
adrohenaiva bhūtānām alpadroheņa vā punaḥ | yā vsttiḥ sa paro dharmas tena jivāmi Jäjale //
"Oh Jājali, without injuring the animals or doing less injury (to animals), if one lives, that is a great religion. I want to live by that religion."
sarveşām yaḥ suhrn nityam sarveşām ca hite rataḥ / karmaņā manasā vācā ca dharmam veda Jäjale //
"Oh Jājali, he who becomes a friend to all people or who is engaged in doing good to others by means of action, mind and speech, he knows religion.”
yadā cāyam na bibheti yadā cāsmän na bibhyati / yadā necchati no dveşti brahma sampadyate tadā ||
“When one does not fear others, and when others do not fear one and when one does not wish to do anything, or when one does not want to hurt others, he attains the feet of Brahma.”
yadā na kurute bhāvam sarvabhūteşu pāpakam / karmaņā manasā vācā brahma sampadyate tadā //
"When a man does not do any harm to animals by action, mind and speech, he can attain the feet of Brahma."
yasmān nodvijate bhūtam jātu kiñcit kathañcana / abhayam sarvabhūtebhyaḥ sa prāpnoti sadā mune //
"When an animal is never agitated by any means from anybody, that world does never feel any agitation from any animal."
Loke yaḥ sarvabhūtebhyaḥ dadātyabhaya-dakşiņām / sa sarva-yajñāi ijānaḥ präpnotyabhaya-dakşiņām / na bhūtānām ahimsāyā jyāyān dharmo'sti kaścana //
