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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
95
Benevolence
Benevolence or helping others is the greatest duty or dharma; and this is the essence of all Shastras and scriptures.
A great scholar came to the palace of a king to deliver spiritual discourses; and he brought with him a cart laden with crores of Dharma Shastras or sciptural texts. The king said to him, “I do not have time to sit hearing discourses for hours together. Explain to me in one minute whatever you can impart to me".
On hearing this, the scholar said, “ Please listen, I will explain to you in half a stanza what crores of scriptural texts say. Benevolence brings merit; and harming others begets sin. This is the essence of all sacred texts.”
Immensely pleased with this profoundly meaningful and pithy reply, the king honoured him by giving him appropriate gifts, This story illustrates the greatness of magnanimity.
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