Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

SR No.: 022643
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K R Chandra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 672
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Book_Devnagari
File Size: 18 MB

Page 184

INTERVENING STORIES
155 When Vaśiştha went out that Raksasa assumed the form of Vašiştha. He asked Saudása to feed him with human flesh and disappeared. Real Vaśiştha was served with it. He cursed Saudása to become a Rākşasa, but at the request of the former the latter moderated efficay of the curse to the period of twelve years only. Saudāsa wanted to recurse Vašiştha by sprinkling water over him. But his wife prevented him from doing so. Hence he poured the water on his own feet and as a result of it his feet got burnt. Thus he came to be known as Kalmāşa pāda. In course of time he developed the nature of a Raksasa and started devouring the human beings. Once he devoured a muni copulating with his wife, just like a 'vyāghra' would devour an animal (4.4.63). The wife of that muni cursed the Rākşasa that he would die the moment he tried to satiate his sexual desire. After 12 years he regained his original nature. His wife Madayanti reminded him of the curse given by the Brāhmani. Saudāsa then never copulated with his wife. It was Vaśiştha who helped the birth of an embryo into the womb of Madayanti. When the child was not born even after the lapse of seven years, her womb was struck with a stone (aśmanā) and the new born child was named Asmaka.
C-Stories of Genesis.
16. Origin of the Brāhmaṇas : Following the episode of the duel between Bharata and Bahubali, Śreņika requests Gautama to tell him the origin of the fourth Varna (caste). Gautama relates the following episode (4. 64-84).
Once Bharata invited the disciples of Rşabha to accept food from his house. Rşabha refused to send them because the food particularly prepared for the monks was not acceptable to them. Then Bharata sent for the lay-votaries. The real votaries did not enter his house with the fear of causing 'hisa' to the living beings of the barley seeds sown in his courtyard whereas the followers of the wrong-faith trampled on them and went to his house. The real followers were marked on their bodies with the Kakiniratna to distinguish them from the pretenders. They got puffed up on account of being greeted by Bharata. Matisāgara informed Bharata of the prophecy of the Jina that those who have been honoured by him would later on, after the deliverance of Lord Mahāvīra, compile the Vedas full of lies and propagate animal sacrifices. Bharata then turned out of his city all those lay-followers and got them beaten by the people. They all took refuge under Rşabha and the latter prevented Bharata from torturing them (ma-haņa). Therefore, they came to be known as the Māhanas (Brāhmaṇas).