Sacred Texts Jainism Index Previous Next
Buy this Book at Amazon.com
Jaina Sutras, Part II (SBE45), tr. by Hermann Jacobi, [1895], at sacred-texts.com
Some say that in old times great men, rich in religious penance, have reached perfection though they drank (cold) water (and ate fruits and roots). Ignorant men (who hear such assertions) are led astray (by them). (1)
'Nami, the king of Vidêha, ate nothing, Râmagupta did eat, Bâhuka drank (cold) water, and so did Târâgana 3, the seer. (2)
Âsila, Dêvala, the great sage Dvîpâyana, and
[paragraph continues] Pârâsara did drink (cold) water, and did eat seeds and sprouts 1. (3)
'I have heard that in old times these renowned and well-known great men ate seeds and drank water, and have reached perfection.' (4)
When weak (monks hear such assertions) they become disheartened, as donkeys break down under their burden; in case of danger they retreat (and perish) like men who walk on crutches 2. (5)
Some 3 say: Pleasant things are produced from pleasant things 4. (They are those who disdain) the noble path and the renowned highest good. (6)
Do not, by disdaining it, lose much for the sake of little. If you do not give up this (wrong law), you will repent of it as the man did who carried iron (a long way) believing it to be silver. (7)
(And so will) those who kill living beings, who do not abstain from untrue speech, who take what is not freely given them, who enjoy sexual pleasures, and who own property. (8)
Some unworthy heretics 1, slaves of women, ignorant men who are averse to the Law of the Ginas, speak thus: (9)
'As the squeezing of a blister or boil (causes relief) for some time, (and has no dangerous consequences), so it is with (the enjoyment of) charming women. How could there be any sin in it? (10)
'As a ram drinks the quiet water 2, so, &c. (the rest as in verse 10). (11)
'As the bird Piṅga 3 drinks the quiet water (flying), &c. (the rest as in verse 10).' (12)
So say some unworthy heretics who entertain false doctrines, and who long for pleasures, as the ewe 4 for her kid. (13)
Those who do not think of the future, but only enjoy the present, will repent of it afterwards when their life or their youth is gone. (14)
But those who exert themselves at the proper time, feel no remorse afterwards; these heroes who have got rid of their fetters, do not long for life. (15)
As Vaitaranî, the river (of hell), is difficult to pass, so in this world women are to the unwise (a temptation) difficult to overcome. (16)
Those who have given up intercourse with women
and have left off adorning themselves, are well established in control, because they have renounced everything. (17)
As merchants go over the sea, so they will cross the flood (of Samsâra), where living beings despond and suffer pains because of their own deeds. (18)
A monk who knows this, will live as a virtuous man guarded by the Samitis; he will abstain from untrue speech, and not take what is not freely given him. (19)
He should cease to injure living beings whether they move or not, on high, below, and on earth. For this has been called the Nirvâna, which consists in peace 1. (20)
21, 22 = I, 3, 3, 20 and 21.
Thus I say.
268:3 Concerning Nami, see above, p. 35, note 2. Râmagupta may be another name of Râma. Instead of Târâgana Sîlâṅka writes Nârâyana.
269:1 Âsila is not known from other sources; perhaps Asita is meant, and Âsila Davila stands for Asita Dêvala. Concerning Dvîpâyana, the Pârâsara, compare Journal of the German Oriental Society, vol. 42, p. 495. But in the Aupapâtika Sûtra (ed. Leumann, § 76) Pârâsara and Dvîpâyana are two distinct persons.
269:2 Pîdhasappî = pîthasarpin. Sîlâṅka comments on the reading pitthasappî, i.e. prishtasarpin; but he makes out no good meaning.
269:3 According to the commentators the Buddhists are intended. They quote some verses in illustration of the pushtimârga of the Buddhists, one of which is not yet known I believe. It runs thus: manunnam bhôyanam bhukkâ manunnam sayanâsanam | manunnamsi agâramsi manunnam ghâyae munî || 'Having enjoyed a pleasant dinner, and a pleasant seat and bed, a muni in a pleasant house meditates on pleasant things.'
269:4 Viz. Môksha, a pleasant thing, is arrived at through a comfortable life, another pleasant thing.
270:1 Pâsattha = pârsvastha.
270:2 The meaning seems to be that by the ram's drinking the water is not disturbed.
270:3 Explained by kapiñgala, the francoline partridge.
270:4 Pûyanâ (pûtana, who is ever desirous of young), explained either by sâkinî hog' or gaddarikâ 'ewe.' The commentators relate the following anecdote. In order to find out which animal loved its young ones best, their young ones were placed at the bottom of a well. Their mothers assembled round the brink and howled, but the ewe threw herself recklessly into the well. Therefore the ewe excels the other animals in maternal love.
271:1 See below, I, 11, 11.