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As regards the basic teachings contained in the chapter are concerned, they are vague. In fact the preaching content in this chapter is very low, and Tetaliputra narrates the experiences of his life. He says, 'Inspite of having relatives friends, sons, I feel helpless; inspite of having wealth I am poor. Hopelessness led me to suicide but there also I failed; consequently, my life is full of doubt; where other Shraman Brahmans talk of faith, I alone preach skepticism. This lack of faith and skepticism was the cause of his detachment.
Besides, Inata and Rishibhashit, Sthanang 22 also contains information about Tetaliputra. It mentions that the title of the eight chapter (Dasha) of Anuttaraupapatik was Tetali. But the version of Anuttaraupapatik available today does not contain the chapter. It may have been deleted from there because the same details had already come into Unata. In absence of any information it is difficult to surmise what was the subject matter dealt in this missing chapter.
Besides Jain literature both Vedic and Buddhist literature do not contain any mention of Tetaliputra. As such it appears that Tetaliputra was basically connected with Nirgranth (Jain) tradition only.
11. MANKHALIPUTTA The eleventh chapter of Rishibhashit123 is about Mankhalipuita. It is natural to ask who this Mankhaliputta was. In Jain and Buddhist traditions mentions of Mankhali Goshal or Makkhali Goshal are available. The fifteenth Shatak of Bhagavatisutral24 presents details of the life and philosophical beliefs of Mankhali Goshal. In the Jain tradition details about Mankhali Goshal can be found in Upasakdasha,125 Avashyakniryukti, 126 Visheshavashyak-Bhashya, 127 Avashyak-churnil28 and many other works besides Bhagavati sutra. According to the available details he was called Mankhaliputta because he was son of a Mankha named Mankhali, and Goshal because he was born in a goshala (cow hut). According to Jain tradition he met Mahavir during the second monsoon after Mahavir accepted monkhood, and remained with him for almost six years, Later they had a
Rishibhashit : A Study
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