Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature

SR No.: 007699
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan
Publication Year: 2014
Total Pages: 257
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 1 MB

Page 133

'What a great taste in merciless acts!'
And he further adds, 'सोऽयं कटुकुटिलमतेर्निर्विवादः प्रमादः' (p. 359 gā.98) i.e 'It is certainly a serious offence of that crooked Caṇakya.' Observations :
123
Though Ratnaprabha uses a lot of pejorative phrases to describe Cāṇakya, it is surprising that he depicts the end of Cāṇakya in the traditional manner. It is noted that Caṇakya accepted inginimaraṇa after a great lament of repentance.
जह जह करीसजलणेण तस्स धन्नस्स डज्झइ देहो ।
तह तह पलयं पावंति, कूरकम्माई कम्माई ।। (p.363 gā.175)
"As the body of the blessed one (i.e. Cāṇakya) was burnt by the blazing fire in the cow-dungs, all his cruel deeds slowly disappeared." The author further adds, 'Due to the pure meditation and equanimity of mind, Cāṇakya acquired heavenly realm of birth.'
Thus in spite of all the cruel, ungrateful and crooked acts undertaken by Caṇakya throughout his life, Caṇakya stands as an iconic figure to Ratnaprabha due to his noble death!
[38-39] The Upadeśa-pada-ṭīkā of Municandra is a collection of narratives written in poetical form during the 12th century A.D. The narratives suggested in the dvaragāthās by Haribhadra are expounded in Jaina Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit by Municandra.
(i) Dvaragāthā 139 contains the life-story of Caṇakya in nutshell. Municandra spares 178 gāthās to document it (pp.109-114). Each and every incident noted down by all the previous writers is included in this biography. In the story-line, nothing is new. Therefore literary translation of gāthās is avoided. The noteworthy points of this story
are -
"
* Every opportunity is exploited to depict Cāṇakya as a Jaina house
holder from start to end. Even the voluntary death of Canakya is