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national, and inter-national relations, and must always be kept in view, to guide ever and anon in every word, thought, or deed. The extent to which Ahimsa can be practised would of course depend upon the varying circumstances of life. It leads to action, and not to inaction. The action must how. ever be well-considered, and performed with due care and caution, without any ill-will, malice, anger, greed, deceit, pride, or passion. It would tend to an all-round progress, in all departments of life, and spheres of action. A good Jain householder, would be a good and successful citizen, soldier, or king, mindful of his duty to others, and to himself.
According to the Jaina scripture known as Padma Purána, Shri Ram Chandra, the hero of the Ramáyana, attained Moksha, or Nirvána, became a worshipful Arhat, and is a worshipable Siddha, because of having followed the discipline of a saint, and having thereby got rid of all Karmic contact, although he killed many men in his encounter with Rávana, the king of Ceylon, and in other skirmishes. Such killing was Himsa, but the Karmic contamination was not deep because of absence of malice, and such as there was, was neutralised by austerities, control of speech and action, meditation and concentration of mind.
Hanuman, the great General and Commander-in-Chief of Shri Ram Chandra's army also attained Emancipation. So did millions of others.
The five Pandava brothers who were the victorious heroes of the greatest war of epic India, a war which caused the destruction of the flower of Indian chivalry, counted in millions, were also good Jaina rulers of territories. They adopted the vows of sainthood, and after severe austerities, and deep meditation attained the highest and purest point of soul purity-the Divinity.
The Emperor Chandra Gupta Maurya was a good Jain monarch of historical times. He sat on the Magadha throne in 322 B. C. and conquered the North-west country up to the Hindukush. His territories extended up to Kathiawar in the west, and included the Punjab, United Provinces and
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