What is true religion ?
Chapter-69
Whether is it a sin or not to kill those, who have not sought our protection ?
reservations delimit violance - Kingdom and non-violence
On the twelfth day of the first fortnight of the month of Chaitra of Samvat 1876, Swami Shri Sahajanandji Maharaj was seated on a cot near the temple of Shri Vasudev Narayan on the verandah facing west in the Durbar of Shri Dada Khachar at Gadhada. he had put on white cloths. The saints and the devotees from the different places were assembled before him.
Chanting of Narayan Mantra got over after the evening Aarti of the idols of Shri Vasudev Narayan. Then Shriji Maharaj said, "What is Dharm as laid down by scriptures ? The kings who were indulging in killing observed the code of protecting one Who had taken their shelter. Therefore, since it is laid down that to kill one who has shelter is a sin, similar!y is it a sin to kill others? Assembly tried to reply but Shriji Maharaj confronted them with counter questions, where upon the Munis requested, "Oh Maharaj ! we also put you the same question? - that it is considered a sanctified act to kill beasts in the performance of Yagyas and Ahimnsa is also laid down in Dharm. Therefore, please tell us which is the Dharm ?"
Replying to the question, Shriji Maharaj said, 'Himsa prescribed in the performance of Yagya is termed Dham in the from of fulfilment of Dharm, Artha and Kama, and does ensure release from Maya. However, the sanction of Himsa in the performance of Yagyas has been given by the scriptures only for averting total indulgence in Himsa, while Ahimsa Dharm, if fUllY observed, obtains release from the bondage of Maya. This Ahimsa Dharm is the Dharm prescribed for the Sadhus and is the giver of absolute release. The Dharm with Hima do so for the fulfilment of material desires
not the absolute release. Ahimsa Dharm is the only fundamental tenet which proffers salvation to those who observe it firmly. King Uparicharvasu even while ruling over the state, observed Ahimsamaya Dharm. Therefore Sadhus should make it a point to observe this vital tenet and should never hurt anyone in body or by speech or by mind, They, should also shed the ego even of their
saintlyness and should develop a feeling of service. Baser instincts like anger etcetera develop in malicious people, the sadhu should always develop equanimity and behave accordingly.
However, it is argued that when one has to deal with thousands of people how can one aford to remain Sadhu ? It should be noted that king Yudhishthira even with a nature or Sadhu ruled over a very large kingdom and Bhimsen and others having a hot nature functioned as deterrent elements.
There is no paucity of such elements. Development of the attributes of saintliness is therefore the only but very unattainable object of life.
Thus Ends Vachanamrit : Gadhada First - 69.
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