Pravachanasara

SR No.: 003289
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A N Upadhye
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram
Publication Year: 1964
Total Pages: 612
Language: Hindi, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 16 MB

Page 574

III, 25]
Pravacanasāra
409
*7. In fact, liberation is not said to be possible for women in that very birth; therefore an alternative (ascetic) emblem is prescribed for women befitting them.
*8. The nature of these (viz., women) is naturally full of negligence (pramāda), and hence they are designated as pramada; therefore these women (pramadāḥ) are said to be plentifully negligent.
*9. As a matter of fact, women are liable to infatuation, aversion, fear and disgust; in their mind (there is) crookedness of a varied type; therefore they cannot attain liberation in that very birth).
*10. There is not a single woman, in the whole world, who is hout even one of these above faults; their limbs are not closed (?) (samudan), and hence they need clothing.
*11. In their case there is always the mental mobility and fickleness and the periodical oozing of blood (at the time of monthly course) wherein grow subtle human organisms.
*12. There is said to be the growth of subtle organisms in the female organ of generation, in between their breasts and in the parts of their navel and armpit; then how can self-control be possible for them ?
*13. Women cannot effect (complete) exhaustion of Karmas, even though they are pure in faith, are endowed with scriptural study and practise a severe course of conduct.
*14. Therefore the Jinas have prescribed for them an emblem befitting their nature (i.e., consisting of clothing etc.); those, that are endowed with family, form and age and practise that course, are called nuns (sramani).
*15. He is a fit one for accepting the ascetic emblem who hails from the three castes (varnas), whose limbs are healthy, whose age can stand the austerities, who is of winning appearance and whose character is free from any scandal.
*16. The loss of three jewels is said to be the (greatest) loss by the Jinas, even by any other loss one does not remain fit for observing sallekhana, ? i.e., the voluntary submission to death.
25. According to Jainism the (acceptable) ascetic paraphernalia is said to consist of the bodily form in which one is born, the words of the teacher, (disciplinary) modesty and the study of the sacred texts.
1. TS. I, 1.
2. sallekhana is a form of an ascetic ideal consisting in voluntary submission to death; and it must necessarily be differentiated from what is ordinarily called suicide: see Ratnakaranda Srävakâcāra of Samantabhadra, verses 122-30.