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Verse 53
The severance of the vitalities that are present (all the ten vitalities are not present in all living beings) is called injury. It is wicked as it causes pain and suffering to living beings. The qualifying phrase 'arising from passionate activity' is intended to indicate that mere severance of the vitalities is not wicked. “Even with the severance of life one is not stained with the sin of injury.” Again it has been said thus in the scriptures: “When a monk goes on foot with carefulness, sometimes small insects get crushed under his feet and die. Still there is not the slightest bondage of sin in his case. From the spiritual standpoint, infatuation is called attachment.” Now, has it not been admitted that mere passionate attitude even without the severance of vitalities constitutes violence? “He who acts with negligence commits injury whether death is caused to organisms or not. And he who proceeds with proper care does not contract bondage of karma by mere injury.” Yes, it is true. But there is no inconsistency in this. Even in the case of the person with negligence there is severance of life-principles at least in thought. It has been said thus in the scriptures. "He who has passions causes injury to himself by himself. Whether injury is then caused to other living beings or not, it is immaterial."
Jain, S.A. (1960), “Reality”, p. 196-197.
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