Agam 21 Upang 10 Pushpika Sutra English Translation

Author(s): Dipratnasagar, Deepratnasagar
Publisher: Deepratnasagar

Page 19

Pushpika-Upang-10- Chapter-4
with nine restraints (gupta brahmacharini). She was accompanied by a large family of scholarly female disciples. After seeking formal permission from the owner, she accepted bed and other necessary things and camped there enkindling her soul with spiritual activities related to inner discipline and austerities.
Later while moving about to seek suitable alms from ordinary, middle, and high class families in Varanasi, a group of two-three aryikas (female ascetics) came to Bhadra Sarthavaha's house. When Subhadra Sarthavahi saw aryikas coming she was happy and pleased. She at once got up from her seat, went ahead seven-eight steps and paid homage to them. After availing the opportunity of giving ample ashan, paan, khadya, svadya ahaar (staple food, liquids, general food, savoury food) as alms she requested
"Aryaas ! I have been enjoying my married life with Bhadra Sarthavaha. However, I have not given birth even to a single child. Blessed, fortunate, and meritorious are those mothers... and so on up to... But I amthe wretched and ill-fated one that has been deprived of any of these pleasures of even a single offspring."
"Beloved of gods ! You are very wise and scholarly. You visit many villages, settlements near mines, cities, and countries. You go to houses of many kings, influential and rich persons, knights of honour, caravan chiefs, etc. to seek alms. Do you know of or have come across some such magical method, mantra, or medical treatment including Vaman (emesis), Virechan (purgation), Vastikarma (common anaema), medicines, formulations, etc. that may enable me to bear and give birth to a child."
At this those aryikas said to Subhadra Sarthavahi—"Beloved of gods ! We are Nirgranth Shramanis (female ascetics) who observe the conduct of five samitis (regulations) including irya samiti (regulation of movement), three guptis (restraints), complete restraint over sense organs and celibacy. It is not proper for us even to hear such talk, how can we preach such subject and act accordingly ? However, O Beloved of gods ! We can tell you about the Omniscient-propagated religion that includes charity, righteousness and much more.
Subhadra Sarthavahi was happy and contented after listening to, contemplating over, and understanding the religious discourse by the aryikas. She went around the aryikas clockwise three times. Raising her joined palms and waving them near her forehead she paid them homage and obeisance. She then said "Beloved of gods! | respect and believe the preaching of the Nirgranth (the Omniscient) and have faith and interest in it. What you have said is correct, true, and real. I want to embrace the Shravak Dharma (Jain religion's Vow)."
The aryikas replied-"Beloved of gods ! Do as you please and avoid languor when doing a good deed."
Then Subhadra Sarthavahi formally accepted Shravak Dharma from those aryikas. After doing that she paid them homage and bid them farewell.
Thus that Subhadra Sarthavahi became a Shramanopasika (devotee of Shraman) and spent her life observing Shravak Dharma.
Once around midnight while Subhadra was thinking about family matters, she thought-"I have been enjoying my married life with Bhadra Sarthavaha. However, I have not given birth even to a single child. Therefore, now I feel that tomorrow at
Aagam -21 - Pushpika
Compiled by - Deepratnasagar
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