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and produces all happiness and best of wealth. Mercy is the root of the tree of dharma and acts as a staircase for climbing to the indstructible position. It is deplorable even to take the name of a cruel person, for him all directions are as meaningless as the void. That is, they lead him nowhere.
Yeṣām Jinopadeśena kāruṇyāmṛtapūrite |
Citte jivadayā nāsti teṣāṁ dharmaḥ kuto bhavet || Mulam dharmatarirādyā vratānāṁ dhāmasampadāṁ | Guṇānāṁ nidhirityangaidayā kāryā vivekibhiḥ || Sarva jīvadayādhārā guṇāstiṣṭhanti mănușe | Sūtradhārāḥ prasūnānāṁ hārāṇāṁ ca sarā iva ||
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- Padmanandī pañcaviṁśatīkā, 6.37-39. That is, How can the dharma be with those householders whose hearts are not moved to mercy even by the merciful sermons of the Jinedradeva that is full of elixir of kindness.
Mercy for the living beings is the root of the tree of dharma, it is the main vow, and it is the cause of all wealth and a treasure of virtues. Therefore, the discreet people must be kind to the living beings.
All virtues reside in men, supported by mercy and kindness as the flowers stay in the garlands supported by the thread that runs through them. That is the householder desirous of gaining the spiritual virtues like right vision etc., must be kind to the living beings.
Himsā pāvam ti mado dayā-pahāno jado dhammo
That is, mainly mercy.
Appendices
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So dhammo jattha daya sovi tavo visayaniggaho jattha | Dasa-aṭṭhadosarahio so devo natthi sandeho ||
Jain Education International
- Kartikeyanuprekṣā, 408.
Violence has been termed as sin because dharma is
- Niyamasāra, commentary on verse 8.
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