Studies in Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages

SR No.: 001597
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 460
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Language
File Size: 22 MB

Page 72

Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
hatred dveṣa, and even truth, if it causes destruction of a living being. Svami Kartikeya presents the very Jaina view of lay life and culture in this regard: The Satyanu-vrata the Minor Vow of Truth is abstinence from harmful, rough, cruel or secret-divulging speech and the use of harmless and balanced words that give satisfaction to living beings and also words that express sacred truth. The Savayapannatti, however, records the positive aspect of truthfulness: One's speech should be based on the pursuit of the good for both the worlds and also on the avoidance of what is harmful to oneself, to others and to both together. But Amṛtacandrasuri's treatment of the Minor Vow of Truth is quite worth nothing, though he has adopted a negative approach to truth:
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Any statement made through Pramatta-yoga-careless activity of body, mind or speech is falsehood. It is of four kinds :
(i) Denying the existence of a thing with reference to its position, time and nature, when it actually exists. For example, to say "Devadatta is not here" when he is actually present there.
(ii) Asserting the existence of a thing with reference to its position, time and place, when it does not exist at all. For example, to say "The pitcher is here" when it is not at all there.
a cow.
(iii) Representation of an existing thing as something different from what it really is. For example, when a horse is said to be
(iv) When a speech is ordinarily garhita-condemnable, savadya- sinful or apriya-disliked.
Moreover, according to Amṛtacandrasūri, back-biting, harsh, unbecoming, non-sensical or unethical speech is condemnable. That kind of speech which provokes another to indulge in causing injury like piercing, cutting, beating etc., or which is likely to lead to destruction of life is sinful; and speech causing to others uneasiness, pain, hostility, misery or anguish etc., is disliked. All these kinds of speech are actuated by pramattayoga - passion in the form of anger, greed, hatred or deceit and, hence, by falsehood, which