Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya
In this world, we find all kinds of beings (with regard to sizes)-big and small. The smallest creatures, like kunthu (ant), and also huge animals, like elephant, exist on this planet. Question arises in the context of karma bondage whether, is 'the killing of small beings and big beings create difference in the type of karma bondage or is it similar?'[1]
The commentators of āgamic texts tried to answer it through unique ways. Sūtrakṛtāṅga Cūrṇi directs that we must resort to Avaktavya i.e. unspeakability while analyzing this context from the perspective of non-violence.[2] The commentator has clarified this statement, further that- if we give equal weight to the violence of small and huge creatures, it would result in increased killings of huge beings. If we admit that killing of small beings attracts less karma, then, people would feel ease in killing the small beings. Hence, it is a very critical condition to answer in either way. Someone practicing non-violence should resort to unspeakability and resist from saying anything.[3] All the questions cannot be answered in language. In the field of ethics, such questions cannot be answered in words. The commentator (cūrṇikāra) has also supported this view.
