________________
78 First Steps to Jainism
Further we find praise of Destiny or Niyati in a number of Sanskrit works; an example from Yogvashista is given below:
यतो यावत्ततत्तदैव ततस्तथा,
यदयदैव नियतं जायते नान्यात् क एनां बाधितुं क्षमः ।
That is "Destiny always dispassionately and beautifully executes the dance drama of wordly affairs.
नियतिर्नित्यमुद्वेगवर्जिता
परिमार्जिता ।
एैषा नृत्यति वै नृत्यं जगज्जालकनाटकम् ।
(d) Purakrit or Past Karmas- In the ordinary sense every act through mind, word or deed (mental, verbal or physical) is known as Kriya or Karma or action. In Jain thought all the actions get recorded on the soul in the form of karman varganas, pudgals or waves due to the vibrations of the soul on account of the acts. If the acts are also accompanied by passions like anger, pride, deceipt and greed, the attachment or bondage of soul is stronger. All such actions have their reaction which are the karma fruits or Karamphal.
It is generally believed that the past Karma were the reasons for the success or failure of one's efforts, and whatever pleasure or pain was derived; was due to past Karma.
Scriptures are full of precepts and examples how past Karma-Purkarit determine the future course of the beings.
misery.)
कम्मं च जाइ मरणस्म मूलं, दुक्खं च जाइ मरणं वयंति ।
(Karma are the roots of birth and death. Birth and death are the roots of
कढाण कम्माण ण मोक्ख अत्थि । (There is no escape (except facing the results) from past Karma).
Jain Education International
The above references are from Jain Agam- Uttaradhyayan. However, most of the other schools of thought like Sankhya, Nyaya, Meemansa, Vedanta and Baudddha have accepted the importance of Karma in the lives of all living beings. Looking for
For Private Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org