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176
SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
triumphs that thrived at the expense of the alien's happiness The remonstrance was not a concession to cowardice
The Lord's voice was more a credo of non-invasion than a remonstrance against warfare The Lord invoked the masses of the nation to take a vow of non-invasion Non-invasion nips the idea of warfare in its bud It should either be a saint or a coward to stay uprovoked in the face of an assault The Lord knew it well that the entire society could not be initiated into sainthood, nor would it be palatable to his genius to see them accursed with cowardice, or moral lapse How could violence be forbidden against a marauder's attack? Only a non-violent reply could be suggested in the circumstances However, such a mentality could not find roots in that era
The Lord realized the significance of the principle of tit for tat Hence he did not recommend an abstention from a violent response to assault or dereliction of duty He exhorted the people to have a non-violent emphasis even in a violent reaction to an assault If violence was to be resorted to, perforce, the compassionate outlook was not to be given up
Varun was a disciple of Lord Mahavira He had taken a vow not to injure others 1
Emperor Kaunik invaded Vaishali Varun was ordered to go to the battle-field He complied with the command of the chief of the polity A soldier of Champa challenged him thus-You warrior of Vaishali! What do you wait for? Why not attack me?'
Said Varun 'I never attack any one unless one attacks me first And I hit only once a day'
The soldier of Champa was furious at these words He shot his arrow with a tremendous force Varun was injured The latter was also a great archer He stretched the string of his bow and shot his arrow The soldier of Champa was done to death
1 'Bhagwaι, 7/197
