The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

206 - Adirai’s Eminence in Chastity
Hell; the exalted ones have condemned these as causing evil. It would
be well if you take note of this.’
The Nāga chieftain laughed in anger and said contemptuously,
‘You tell us that life that leaves the body takes another form and
enters another body. Will you explain how life goes from one body to
another?’
Nothing ruffled by this, Śāduvan replied:
‘When life is in the body, it experiences that which occurs; when life
leaves the body, that self-same body does not experience any feeling
even when it should be set fire to. Therefore you learn that [152]
something that was in the body has left it. Everybody knows that
when one leaves his place, he must needs be somewhere else. You
experience in dreams that life can travel many leagues leaving the
body here. Therefore you can understand that when life leaves the
body here, it goes into another even at great distances.’
When Śāduvan made this exposition, the habitually angry Nāga fell at
the feet of merchant Śāduvan and said:
‘It is impossible for me to keep life and body together without meat
and beer. Therefore teach us that good life that is possible for us.’
Śāduvan said in reply:
‘Well said; you will follow the good path. If people suffering
shipwreck should hereafter come to you alive, give them protection.
Do not kill living creatures for food. Be satisfied with the flesh of
animals that die.’