Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

Author(s): Shaktidhar Jha
Publisher: Bharat Bharti Bhandar

Page 56

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Aspects of Brahmanical Influence on the Jain Mythology
and concludes almost with the account of the total annihilation of the drunken yadavas in a fratricidal fray Almost all important events connected with the titanic hcroes of cpic like Bhişma, 9! Drona, Karna, Arjuna and Duryodhana have been handled with a fair amount of faithfulness to the Mahābharata version The Pandavas have been represented here, as in the epic, as righteous and stra ghtforward The Kauravas, on the other hand, have been depicted as treacherous and mischieve ous Further, in bravery the Pandavas are represented as far excelling their cousins who are described, just in the cpic way, as put to pitiable plight by the former even in friendly tournament organised by Dronacarya, their common Guru in the science of arms
Besides the fundamental agreement between the main events as narrated in the Mahabhārata and those in the present work, there are situations which are strikingly analogous to those in the epic For instance, reference may be made to the pre-war context wherein Arjuna reportedly resolves to retire from the fight against his fricods and relatives as well as his elders arrayed in the Kaurava army. Thereupon, we are told, Lord Krşna reproaches Arjuna with unbecoming weakness of heart and exhorts him that it is his sacred duty as a warrior to fight against his enemies whosoever they may be Thus, Sri Kțşna urges Arjuna to fight in accordance with the docrine of dispassionate action in conjunction with that of supreme devotion to the personal god as propounded in the Bhagavadgita. And, it is significant that similar situation has been introduced s, in the present work just in the like manner Here, too, Arjuna
declines to wage war with his kinsmen, bereft of whom, he thinks, he cannot live in peace 100 This resolve of Arjuna pains Srikīşna and he accuses the former of unmeet tenderness of heart and eggs him on to discharge his duty as a warrior 101 09 The account of the circumstances leading to Bhisma's terrible vow of
renouncing the kingdom and keeping celibate is in striking agreement with the epican description of the same Of Pc 1 158-247 and MBh.
1 100 45-99 100 Pc, 13 3 23 and comp Bg 1 21-47, 2 4-9 101 Pc 13 24-34, Bg 2.1-3, 10 ff