Book Title: Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature
Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan

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Page 207
________________ 197 cated to ethics. Since the Kautilīya Arthaśāstra is a science of governance and administration, it is expected that each person should follow the rules laid down for him as a citizen, in spite of one's religion. When the Jaina writers codified their ācāra-saṁhitā, naturally they carefully studied the Arthaśāstra. The Kauțilīya Arthaśāstra is an important part of Magadhan literature, where Jainism flourished in its initial centuries. Therefore, there is no wonder that we find ample examples of common terminology in both. Here, some important words and expressions are considered with the relevant citations, as a sample study. If the whole data is fully exploited, it can be easily converted into a doctoral thesis. [i] Śāsana : The 31" adhyāya of Arthaśāstra gives all the details of the king's edict i.e. written order. At the very outset it is told that these types of written orders are called 'śāsana'. It is a duty of a king to draw such edicts and it is the duty of a citizen to follow it without any breach. Several types of orders are described in this chapter at length. It is seen that the words śāsana and jinaśāsana are very popular in the old Ardhamāgadhī texts. It is expected that every Jaina person particularly a monk should follow the strict orders of the Jinas or Tīrthankaras because they carry no less importance than that of a king's verdicts. The Sūtrakstānga (1.3.69) notes that - एवमेगे उ पासत्था पण्णवेति अणारिया । इत्थीवसं गया बाला जिणसासणपरंमुहा ।। In this verse it is told that, “The Pārsvasthas (the followers of Pārsvanātha) have detered themselves from the order of the Jinas (Jinaśāsana) because they are subjected to womanfolk.

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