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One day, śramaņa Bhagavāna Mahāvira, came to the place where Saddāla-putra was drying in the heat of the Sun, some unfinished earthen vessels, which he had kept in his house for drying by air, and regarding an earthen vessel the Worshipful Lord inquired:-Saddâla-putra ! How is this earthen pot made !
Saddāla-putra:-Bhagavan. In the beginning, it was a lump of clay. Then, after having kneaded it well it was placed on a rotating circular wheel and made into a vessel having this shape.
Śramaņa Bhagavāna Mahāvira:-O Saddāla-putra! Does it require the help of utthana (exertion) bala (strength) vîrya (manly vigour) for its production or is it made without these helps ?
Saddāla-putra was a little embarsassed. But inspired by the teachings of the Ājivika doctrine of Gośālaka Mankhalı-putra, he replied:-Bhagavan ! All objects are created according to a fixed order of things, without the help of utthāna (exertion) bala (strength) virya (manly vigour) etc.
Sramana Bhagavāna Mahāvīra cross-examining him, asked him:-If any body were to take away your earthen vessels or to throw them away or to destroy them; or if any one would try to have sexual intercourse with your wife Agni-mitrā, then, will you punish him or not? Saddala-putra said:-Bhagavana! I will certainly catch that wicked person, will bind him and I will certainly kill him.
śramana Bhagavāna Mahävira, then said:-O Saddála-putra! In case all the objects in the Universe, are created according to a fixed order of things without the help of utthâna (exertion) bala (strength), vīrya (manly vigour) etc, then, there must be no harm if these things are stolen away or destroyed. Besides, there must be no objection on your part if any body tries to have sexual intercourse with your wife. In that case, why should you punish that man or even kill him? Because, according to your Ajivika doctrine, all things are produced according to a
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