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Aspects of Brahmanical Influence on the Jaina Mythology
more, the attempt to gain this goal requires the renunciation of the world and worldliness Therefore, the retirement from the social life is normally the essential condition for the realization of the fourth end,197 which is the summum bonum of human existence As such, for the man in the society, the cpic-Purāņic texts refer only to the group of the first three Puruşārthas, popularly called Trwarga 128
With regard to the above aspect of the Hindu view of life, the Jaina Purānas show marked agreement with the epics For, in spite of their occasional preachings for exclusive and direct pursuit of Mokşa, the works in question recognise, Dharma, Artha and Kama as the ends of human existence.129 As such, quite contrary to their otherwise strong advocacy in favour of direct asceticism for attaining salvation, these works often refer to the group of only the first three goals, viz Dharma, Artha and Kāma, 180 the last two being the concern of the householders alone.
As in the epics, the ends are placed, in the works, in the same order of the descending values. Dharma stands supreme in the scheme of the three Puruşārthas,131 for it not only contributes towards the satisfaction of man's economic, aesthetic and emotional cravings, but also leads on to the celestial world and eventually serves as the only source of salvation 132 Now, on the merit of their secondary importance in man's life here and here. after, Artha and Käma occupy respectively the second and third positions among the three ends 133 These two are considered as Puruşārthas only when these are served in accordance with the dictates of Dharma And when coming in the way of Dharma
127 Hence, the fourth stage, popularly known as Samnyāsāstama is also
called Mokşaśrama --MBh XII 192 6a Also see XII 246 2-5 128 cg MBh XII 191 10 Gf AP 231 129 As in the cpics, these ands find mention in the works as Trioarga (group
of three), MP 1 118,2 31; 24 ba. 130, MP 24 Ba, 44 50a, 61 82, 63 6,54 34, 67-6, 69 6, 62 27, 38, 63 256b
TSPC 2 1 29, 225 131 MBh XII 167 8a 132 lbid, XII 107 7-9, 123 4a Rämä III 9 30-31 133 MBh. XII 167 8.
