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162
PROLEGOMENA TO PRAKRITICA et JAINICA
"He who gives fearless (atmosphere) to all animals of the world, he attains no fear (from anybody) even by performing sacrifice. There is no great religion of men like ahimsa (non-injury) in the world."
Tuladhara goes on saying that "there is no higher law than forbearance towards all living beings. Therefore the breeding of cattle is cruel, because it involves the torturing and killing of animals. Cruel, too, is the keeping of slaves, and traffic in living creatures. Even agriculture is full of sin, for the plough wounds the earth and kills many innocent animals" (Winternitz, Hist. Ind. Lit. pp. 41617). To this Jājali replies
kṛṣṇā hyannam prabhavati tatas tvam asi jivasi | paśubhis coşadhibhiśca martyā jīvanti vanija || tato yajñaḥ prabhavanti nāstikyam api jalpasi / na hi varted ayam loko vārtām utsṛjya kevalan ||
"Food is produced by agriculture, and you, too, are living on it; people live on cattle-breeding and agriculture; from that sacrifice is performed, you are talking like an atheist, people could not live alone by giving up the business of his livelihood."
Thereupon Tuladhara replied with a long discourse upon the true sacrifice, which should be offered without the desire for reward, without priestly deception, and without the killing of living beings. Finally Tulādhāra calls on the birds which had nested in the hair of Jājali's head as witnesses for his doctrine, and they, too, confirm that the true religion consists in forbearance towards all human beings" (Winternitz, Hist. Ind. Lit. pp. 417-18).
ahimsa paramo dharmas tathāhimsā paro damaḥ / ahimsa paramam dānam ahimsā paramam tapaḥ ||
"Ahimsa (non-violence) is the highest religion, in the same way ahimsa is the highest restraint; ahimsa is the highest gift, and ahimsa is the highest penance."
