Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA.
Ch. It
The Arthaśāstra' also echoes almost the same sentiment on the ideal of war advocating thus "His (king's) minister and priest should encourage the army by saying thus". "It is declared in the Vedas that the goal which is reached by sacrifices after performing the final ablutions in sacrifices, is the very goal which the brave men are destined to attain." "Sooth-sa yers and court-bards should describe heaven as the goal for the brave and hell for the timid."
But Lord Mahāvīra refuted the traditional arguments on the ideal of war by citing the case of ninety-six lakhs men killed in the Rathamusala Sangrāma. He told Gautama Indrabhūti, his first disciple that only one of them i. e. Nāgaputra Varuņa would be born in heaven, one in a best family, the other ten thousands in the womb of fish, and the remaining of them in bell and lower animal world.3
The echoes of the same holy teachings of the Gitā on the consequences of war are also heard in the Kalinga Edict' of the emperor Asoka, through which he speaks thus "Kalinga was conquered by king Priyadaráin, Beloved of the gods, anointed eight years. One hundred thousand and a half in number were the men carried away thence (as captives), one hundred thousand in number were killed in action and as many as that died. Thereafter, in connection with the recently annexed country of the Kalingas (arose) a strong pious tendency, a longing for piety, (and) an (idea of) inculcating the Law of Piety in the Beloved of the gods. The Beloved of the gods has this repentence on account of having conquered the country of the Kalingas. In conquering indeed an unconquered country, the slaying or dying or deporting which occurs there is considered an extremely pain. ful and serious matter by the Beloved of the gods."....... "Now, as many men were then killed, died and were carried
1 Arthaśāstra, 367. (Book X. Ch. III). 2 Ib. 3 Bhs, 7, 9, 301, 303 (See also the Sūtra No. 7, 9, 303)
Thirteenth Rock-Edict : Sahbāzgarhi. See Inscriptions of Asoka ; part II, by B. M. Barua, and Select Inscriptions, edited by Dr. D. C. Sirkar,