Jain Journal 1981 04

SR No.: 520062
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 79
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 6 MB

Page 33

APRIL, 1981
147
nose of Manu when Manu sneezed.? According to VP sons and grandsons of Iksvaku were the kings of Uttarapatha and Daksinapatha (VP 4.2.12-14). But BP (9.6.5.) says that the kingdom was divided as Eastern, Western, Central and the rest (Southern) amongst them. In this dynasty Rsabha is not mentioned.
Story of Rsabha is mentioned in VP (2.1) with reference to the dynasty of Svayambhu Manu, who had two sons, Uttanapada and Priyavrata. Priyavrata's son was Agnidhara and his son was Nabhi whose wife Marudevi gave birth to Rsabha whose 100 sons were Bharata and others. Here Bahubali etc. are not mentioned. Same is the case with BP (4 and 5).
The kingdom of Bharata was formerly called Ajanabhakhanda but it took its new name Bharatavarsa from the time of Bharata, its king (VP, 2.1.32 ; BP, 5.7.3).
Rsabha is accepted by both the Purāņas as an incarnation of God and a naked ascetic. The purpose of the incarnation is mentioned as the establishment of the heretical Arhaddharma (Jainism) opposing the Vedas in order to conquer the Asuras who could not be conquered by the Suras (gods) because of their faith in Vedas. The Asuras followed the Arhaddharma propounded by Rsabha and opposed the Vedas and so were conquered by the Suras (VP, 3.17, 18 ; BP, 5.3.17ff).
The story of Bharata as a son of Rsabha is also found in both the Purānas. Bharata first becomes a king but due to his extreme devotion to God he renounced the kingdom and became a Parivrajaka and resided at Pulahasrama (Hariharaksetra) and due to his attachment to a deer which was saved by him from drowning in the river he took his next birth as a deer, also devoted to the God. And in his next birth he became a Brahmin who in order to devote himself to God and nothing else behaved like a mad, foolish, blind and deaf man (ātmānam unmatta-jada-andhabadhirasvarūpeņa darśayāmāsa—BP, 5.9.3.; ātmānam darśayāmāsa jadonmattākstim jane-VP. 2.13.44). And so he had to suffer hardship as Paramahamsa and at last he was liberated (VP, 2.13-16 ; BP, 5.7.-15).
Here we can mark that the version of VP is the base for BP version.
7 According to the Jainas the dynasty of Iksvaku begins with Rsabha, VH, p. 161;
AN, 180-181 ; vi-asiya ikkhubhoi ikkhaga tena khattiya honti—1610. But PC says it began with Aiccajasa (5.9), the son of Bharata (5.3.).