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DISCOURSE 14
again on Androcles. The lion again went near the man; licked his body affectionately; and came back to its cage. The king became breathless. He had not seen such a thing at any time before, "Why is it that the lion does not kill the offender?" The king was even angry with the lion. He ordered his men again to release the lion for the third time. Even this time, it behaved in the same manner. It went near the man; licked his body affectionately; and returned to its cage. The King sent for Androcles and asked him, "Do you know any magic or mesmerism? Have you cast any spell on the lion? Is it because of that that the lion has not killed you? What is the reason for this strange behaviour of the lion ?"
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Androcles said, "O, King! The lion is not a heartless creature. It too has a heart. There is some purity; there is some amity even in its heart. It never attacks a person who has once helped it. Yes, we should not tease it".
The king asked him, "Then, have you helped the lion at any time?
Androcles replied, "O, King! Some days ago, this lion was in the forest. A large thorn had got stuck in its foot, and it was in great pain. I removed the thorn and relieved it of its pain. This is the same lion. It has recognised me. How can it attack me? Only selfish human beings cause harm to their benefactors. This lion will never do so".
IS MAN WORSE THAN AN ANIMAL ?
When Bhagwan Mahavir, the very embodiment of compassion delivered his first sermon, at the Samavasaran, even wild and violent animals sat listening to him, forgetting their violent nature. No wild animal harmed or attacked Mahavir Swami. But a man attacked him. Do you know who he was? He was Goshalak on whom Mahavir had bestowed many benefactions many times. Goshalak was there. He attacked his Gurudev, Mahavir Swami who was his great benefactor, (with thejoleshya) with powerful fire. Man is thus worse than animals, if his mind is completely unclean.
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