Agama And Tripitaka Comparative Study

Author(s): Nagaraj Muni
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Printers and Publishers

Page 22

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case-en ding singular number, the form of the word is ‘puttim'.
To a certain extent, the above contention is supported by the Cūrni of Sūtrakrtānga. In elaborating it, the writer of the Cūrņi states, sūkaram vā cchagalam vā (a pig or a goat)[4]; but there is no hint in this of the Buddha's having taken the pork. This Gātha is illustrated with the example of a bird (Lävaka) which was killed and served in the bowl of a bhiksu.
In the Padaccheda of the Cūrņi of the aforesaid Gathā, the reading of Jinadasa Gani is putram api tāvat samārabhya'. In his commentary, Silankācārya reads it as ‘putram pitā samārabhya'. Some scholars regard the padaccheda of the Cūrņi as correct. According to them, it is not uncommon if in certain situations, the father slaughters his son. So the word 'putram 'api' in the padaccheda of the Curni. Hence the meaning of the padacche da of the Cūrņi and Tikā in the sense of the slaughter of the son stands. The word father here may be interpreted to include mother also. In modern age, the slaughter of the son by father is very uncommon, ghastly and a crime, but in anicient literature such events are found recorded at many places.
According to Telovāda Jātaka (Balovāda Jātaka, No. 246)[5], ‘Bhikṣu taking Uddista meat specially prepared for him is involved in the sin. In giving reply to this statement, Boddhisttva said,
puttadāram pi ce hantvā deti dānam asaññato,
bhuńjmān o'pi sappannjona pāpamupalimpati. Here clearly the wife and the son have been butchered to feed a bhiksu. This has affinity of thought and expression with the aforesaid Gathā of Sutrakrtanga.
According to Culla Pauma Jataka[6], in one of his earlier lives, Bodhisattva and his six brothers with their seven wives were crossing through a forest. On the way, they killed one wife per day and gratified their hunger [7]
We have the following from the Jaina Agama named Jnātadharmakathanga : Trader Dhannā and his sons discussed among themselves the idea of killing one per day in order to feed the rest 4. Sūtrakrtānga Cūmi, Pub. Risabhdevji Kesárimalaji Sve. Sansthā, Ratlama,
p. 50. 5. Vide the present text p. 6. Jātak No. 193.
The first part of this story is similar to that of the well-known Jaina story 'King Jitasatru and Queen Sukum
7.