Sambodhi 2014 Vol 37

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 76

68
Sunanda Y. Shastri
SAMBODHI
foremost one among them. A unique thing about Mahābhārata is that, it does not only prohibit violence, but it actually analyzes it. Mahābhārata wants one and all to understand the suffering of dumb animals. People take animals from one place to another place. Sometimes the young animals are snatched from their mothers. Sometimes they are taken from one better-conditioned place to a degraded place, where there are mosquitoes and fleas and dirt. This transfer from one territory to another causes lot of pain to animals. These animals, too, love their mothers and their mothers love them. Many animals are made to carry the loads on their back. Their sufferings are untold.
(अदेशमशके देशे सुखसंवर्धितान् पशून् ।
तांश्च मातुः प्रियाञ्जानन्नाक्रम्य बहुधा नराः ॥ बहुदंशाकुलान् देशान् नयन्ति बहुकर्दमान् ।
allerufsm gut: pilatefferat 11 - ibid- 43, 44). It is not only the suffering of dumb animals, but even the minute life forms also suffer at the hands of humans. Farmers use wooden ploughs with iron teeth. When these ploughs are used in the farms, many minute life forms in the soil are destroyed. Even the bulls tied to the ploughs suffer due to the bondage.
(भूमि भूमिशयांश्चैव हन्ति काष्ठमयोमुखम् ।
petalaçet ythi HdH HIS II - ibid-46) Therefore, Mahābhārata stresses that, giving refuge to those who need it is the highest religion.
( लोके यः सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददात्यभयदक्षिणाम् ।
# Houstfrita: Tieferunt. 11 - ibid - 29) This is the definition of religion given at many places in the Mahābhārata. In context to many different occasions and stories, Mahābhārata preaches non-violence in many words and terms. Mahābhārata criticizes them who support violence. It says, 'those who do not know the true religion, those who are fools and non-believers and those who doubt the existence of the Soul, these people only support the violence. Otherwise, Manu has propagated non-violence in every kind of ritual. It is ignorant people who actually sacrifice animals on the altar.'
( अव्यवस्थितमर्यादैविमूढेर्नास्तिकैनरैः ।
संशयात्मभिरव्यक्तैहिंसा समनुवर्णिता ।।