Agam 21 Upang 10 Pushpika Sutra English Translation

Author(s): Dipratnasagar, Deepratnasagar
Publisher: Deepratnasagar

Page 21

Pushpika-Upang-10- Chapter-4 situation when his house is on fire a householder chooses the most valuable and least cumbersome objects to take out and keep safe. In the same way I will protect my soul, which I very much adore, desire, love, covet, and approve, in such a way that no harm is caused to it by heat, cold, hunger, thirst, thief, snake, lion, wasp, mosquito and ailments caused by disturbed wind, bile, and phlegm." Uttering these words as Devananda said to Bhagavan Mahavir (See-Bhagavati Sutra), she got initiated by Suvrata Aryaa. She became a completely celibate aryaa observing five samitis (self regulations), three guptis (restraints).
At some point of time after initiation, with feelings of fondness and attachment for them, Subhadra Aryaa developed love and affection for children of householders. She started searching and bringing a variety of things for these children. The things included-oil for massage, pastes for removing filth from body, potable water, henna powder and other colours to decorate their limbs, bracelets, collyrium (etc.), sandalwood, perfumed powder, toys, sweets, kheer (a pudding made of rice and milk), milk, garlands, and many other such things. Of these adolescents, kids, and babies of the householders, she would massage some with oil, rub pastes to some, give bath with clean water to some, paint legs and lips of some, apply collyrium to eyes of some, make arrow like figure with saffron at the center of the foreheads of some, and rock some in a rocker. She would also make some kids stand in a line and then make them stand apart for applying sandal-wood paste to some and perfumed powder to others. To some she would give dolls to play with, to some she would feed sweets and to some she would feed milk or kheer. She would take off garland from neck of some and shower flowers on them. Some she would place on both the legs and others on her thighs. She would lovingly cuddle and fondle babies lifting some on her legs, some in her arms, some on her waist, some on her back, some on her breasts, some on her shoulders, some on her head and some in her palms. Smooching them, she would sing lullabies to some and songs in loud voice to others. This way she spent her time with children, vicariously satiating her desire for a son, wish for a daughter, and craving for grandchildren.
When Aryaa Suvrata saw all these anti-ascetic activities of Subhadra she warned "Beloved of gods ! we are Nirgranth Shramanis (female ascetics) and we are strictly celibate observers of Irya samiti (etc.). As such, we are not allowed to indulge in caring for and fondling children of householders. But inspired by feelings of fondness and attachment, love and affection for children of householders, you indulge in proscribed activities including massaging oil... and so on up to... satiating your desire for a son, grandson (etc.). O Beloved of gods ! you should condemn this proscribed and disgraceful conduct and do the prescribed atonement."
Subhadra neither believed nor accepted these instructions and directions of Aryaa Suvrata. Defying and ignoring her instructions, she continued her adopted way of playing with children.
As a result of this the Nirgranth Shramanis of the group started reproaching her, criticizing her, proscribing her, and disdaining her. And they restrained her time and again from..indulging..in..prohibited..activities.
This reproaching... and so on up to... restrained her from indulging in prohibited activities by other Aryikas forced Subhadra to think, "When I was a house-holder I had
fondling affection for So on up hidemn this p
Aagam -21 - Pushpika
Compiled by - Deepratnasagar
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