Hitopadesha 1.64.p1

1.64.p1

gṛdhro 'vadat-mārjāro hi māṃsa-ruciḥ | pakṣi-śāvakāś cātra nivasanti | tenāham eva bravīmi | tac chrutvā mārjāro bhūmiṃ spṛṣṭvā karṇau spṛśati, brūte ca-mayā dharma-śāstraṃ śrutvā vīta-rāgenedaṃ duṣkaraṃ vrataṃ cāndrāyaṇam adhyavasitam | yataḥ parasparaṃ vivadamānānām api dharma-śāstrāṇām ahiṃsā paramo dharmaḥ ity atraikamatyam | yataḥ-

"To these weighty words Grey-pate answered,

'Yes! but cats like meat, and there are young birds here, and therefore I said, go.'

'Sir,' said the Cat (and as he spoke he touched the ground, and then his two ears, and called on Krishna[5] to witness to his words), 'I that have overcome passion, and practised the moon-penance, know the Scriptures; and howsoever they contend, in this primal duty of abstaining from injury they are unanimous. Which of them sayeth not—