Patanjali Yoga Sutra — अहिंसाप्रतिष्ठायां तत्सन्निधौ वैरत्यागः॥2.35॥
Ahiṃsāpratiṣṭhhāyāṃ tatsannidhau vairatyāgaḥ॥
When a sādhaka is resolutely committed to non-violence (non-injury), there will be no enmity, wherever he is present.
Predominantly a man with a violent mind would exhibit impatience coupled with unrighteousness (adhārmic) in his deeds, words and thoughts. We read about great personalities like Bhagavān Buddha, Mahātma Gāndhi, observing this great vow of ahiṃsā from the bottom of their hearts. Mahātma Gāndhi was totally non-violent in his freedom fight against the British. It is said even the cruelest of animals ceased to be brutal in the presence of Bhagavān Buddha. It is also said that he was able to create a vast zone of non-violence around him and whoever enters that zone would show strong signs of forbearance as if they were under hypnosis. That is because of his steadfast non-violence — kāyā (physically), vācā (in words), manasā (mentally).
hiṃsa (Violence) could take three forms, says Vyāsa maharṣi.
Ahiṁsā paramodharmaḥ is the proclamation of Indian scriptures. Gītācārya Śrīkr̥ṣṇa says, non violence, equanimity, contentment, asceticism, generosity, reputation, humiliation — these are all different experiences of jīvātma who is originated from Me:
अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः।
भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः॥गीता १०.५॥
Ahiṃsā samatā tuṣṭistapo dānaṃ yaśo’yaśaḥ|
bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṃ matta eva pṛthagvidhāḥ॥Gītā 10.5॥
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्।
दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्॥गीता १६.०२॥
Ahiṃsā satyamakrodhastyāgaḥ śāntirapaiśunam|
dayā bhūteṣvaloluptvaṃ mārdavaṃ hrīracāpalam॥Gītā 16.2॥
Further Bhagāvan says, non-violence, truthfullness, lack of anger, renunciation, composure, non-slander, being compassionate to all living beings, non-sensuality, gentleness, humility, being resolute (these are all the qualities present in those born to divine inheritance).
ahiṃsa should be understood in a wider connotation. It need not be physical abuse, but includes mental also. ahiṃsa dharma has very subtler aspects and needs a very broader perspective to understand in its right sense, as narrated very vividly in one of the stories of Pañca tantra:
Three brothers were ascetics. Through their austerities (Tapas) and other spiritual sādhana, they had the power to hang their clothes in air without any support of rope and sticks! They knew that this power would be with them so long as they lead a dhārmic (Righteous) life.
One day while the three brothers were offering arghya (offering sacred water to Sun God as a part of ritualistic performances) they saw an eagle flying with a mouse in his mouth. The first ascetic shouted — ‘You cruel eagle, leave that mouse right now’. Immediately his cloth hanging in the air fell down!
The second ascetic panicked at this and shouted — ‘You eagle, don’t leave that mouse, take away and eat’. Immediately his cloth also fell down!
However third ascetic remained calm and balanced and said to himself — ‘Who am I to stop or not stop this. If I stop the eagle from eating that mouse, I would be denying the natural dharma of that eagle. If I wish the mouse be eaten away by that eagle, I would be refuting the natural living right of that mouse. Let the Dharma (Natural justice) prevail’. His cloth did not fall! Difficult to comprehend, is it?
