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"How many kinds of karma, according to you, effect and start demerit"?
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• "Three, Tapassi, those of body, word and mind".
"Are these three distinct each from the other
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two"?
. "Yes".
"Which of these three you declare to be the most criminal, Gautama, in effecting and starting demerit"?
"Those of mind, the other two being less criminal". "Those of mind, you say. Is that right"?
"Yes",
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The nigantha made Buddha repeat the same thrice, as he had done with him, pinned him do to the issue and departed. As he was a little way off from the Nigantha camp, Mahavira enquired where he had been in the heat of the day, the Digha Tapassi narrated the whole account. To this Nataputta gave his blessing and support saying,
"Quite right, Tapassi, quite right. You answered Gautama like a well informed disciple who understands his Master's teachings. For, what show can the mind's danda make as compared with the stupendous danda of the body? Indeed, the danda of the body are the most criminal in effecting and starting demerit; those of word and mind being less criminal".
On hearing this, Grhapati Upali, a lay disciple of Mahavira expressed a desire to go to Buddha and engage him in a discussion on the same topic. He assured Nataputta that he would teach Buddha a right lesson. These are his words,
"Just as an elephant at the age of sixty enters into a tank and plays the game called Sanadhovana, in the same manner I will play Sanadhovana with
