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( 199 ] HGIGYT 3784r
सचित्र उत्तराध्ययन सूत्र
SAPTDASH ADHYAYAN: PAAP-SHRAMANIYA
Foreview
The title of this chapter is Paap-shramaniya (Sinful Ascetic). In short, a sinful ascetic is he, who accepts initiation bravely like a lion but practices it cowardly like a jackal or gets initiated cowardly like a jackal and also practices like a jackal.
In the fifteenth chapter characteristics of an excellent ascetic were described and in the sixteenth chapter the importance of celibacy was elaborated; whereas in this chapter an aspirant is inspired to cast off faults by discussing the characteristics of a sinful ascetic.
In fact ascetic conduct is like walking on razor's edge. For this it is absolutely essential to be awake every moment, to be alert in following ascetic-praxis, to be resolute in following ascetic-codes and to be immaculate in pursuit of right knowledge-faithconduct.
But all aspirants are not devoted to the religious path. Some are devoted to comforts and joy. Such comfort-loving aspirants are called sinful ascetics. This chapter shows the inclination and activities of such sinful ascetics. . In this chapter verses one 1 to 4 deal with knowledge-code, verse 5 with perception/ faith-code, from 6 to 14 with conduct-code, 15 and 16 with austerity-code, and 17 and 18 with potency-code. In these verses the mental state and outward activities of sinful ascetics who are indifferent to these codes have been explained.
This chapter also reveals that in canonical scriptures of Jainism, on one hand the true ascetics are revered and placed on a lofty pedestal and on the other hand harsh attitude is used for the lax sinful ascetics.
The sum and substance of the whole chapter is the inspiration to abandon laxness in conduct and follow faultless ascetic code.
The chapter has 21 verses.
