Nataputta in Early Nirgrantha Literature

SR No.: 250222
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M A Dhaky
Publisher: Z_Aspect_of_Jainology_Part_3_Pundit_Dalsukh_Malvaniya_012017.pdf
Publication Year: 1991
Total Pages: 5
Language: English
Classification: Article & Tirthankar
File Size: 465 KB

Page 3

M. A. Dhaky
And finally the following verse in the selfsame hymn once more refers to Nataputta: "And just as the one who possesses seven lavas (in the five ultimate heavenly worlds) are best among those beings who remain in stable state, and as the heaven Sudharma's is the finest of all assembly-halls, and among all orders the one that leads to the path of liberation is the best, so is Nataputta matchless (among the "knowers""):
122
ठितीण सेट्ठा लवसत्तमा या सभा सुषम्मा व सभाण सेट्ठा । निव्वाण सेट्ठा जय सव्वधम्मा नातपुत्ता परमत्थि नाणी ॥
सूत्रकृतांग १.६.२४
Also in Book II of the Sūtraktanga, in the chapter "Ardrakiya" (c. 3rd 2nd cent. B. C.) references to Samana Nätaputta and Isino Nataputta figure:
पनं जता वणिए उदयट्ठी आतस्स हेतु पगरेति संगं । ततो मे समणे नाशपुते इच्छेव मे होती मती विपक्का ॥
सव्वेसि जीवान दयट्ठताए सावज्ज दोसं परिवज्जयंता । तस्संकिणी इसिणो नातपुत्ता उदिट्ठभत्तं परिवज्जयंति ॥
सूत्रकृतांग २.६.४०
The Dasavaikālika-sutra also refers to Nataputta Nataputta in its chapter on "Pindesana" (c. 3rd 2nd cent. B. C. ) which dwells upon monastic rules for begging food and permissible alms. The two verses cited below (without translation) is the first case in point:
एवं च दोसं दनं नातपुतेन भासितं । अणुमातं पि मेधावी मायामोसं विवज्जए ।
विडमुन्भेइमं लोणं तेल्लं सप्पि च फाणितं । न ते सन्निहिमिच्छेति नातपुत्तवचोरता ॥
सूत्रकृतांग २.६.१९
- दशवेकालिकसूत्र ६.१७
The next two verses claim that, if clothes, begging bowl, blanket, and the feet-cleaner are accepted (by a friar) for the sake of modesty and for the maintenance. of ascetic practices, it cannot be construed as possession (parigraha); because it is (in the final analysis) the 'attachment' which is possession par excellence as enjoined by Nātaputta' :
जं पिवत्यं च पातं वा कंबलं पावनं । तं पि संजम - लज्जट्ठा धारेंति परिहरे वि च ॥ न सो परिग्गहो वृत्तो नातपुतेन ताइना । मुच्छा परिग्गहो वृत्तो इति बुतं महेसिया ॥
- वशवेकालिकसूत्र ५.२.४९
- दश बैकालिकसूत्र ६. १९-२०