Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan

Page 78

ber Canakya. (B) Nisitha-bhāsya, gathās 4463 ; 4464; 4465 :
जंघाहीणे ओमे , कुसुमपुरे सिस्स जोगरहकरणं ।
खुड्गदुगंऽजणसुणणं , गमणं देसंत ओसरणं ।। भिक्खे परिहायंते , थेराणं ओमे तेसि देंताणं ।
सहभोज्ज चंदगुत्ते , ओमोयरियाए दोब्बल्लं ।। चाणक्कपुच्छ , इट्टालचुण्ण दारं पिहेउ धूमो य ।
दिस्सा कुच्छ पसंसा , थेरसमीवे उवालंभो ।। The connected Niśītha-sūtra prescribes atonement to a monk who enjoyes the food not by begging alms but by stealing the food in invisibly by enchanting some occult mantra. The bhāșyakāra immediately remembers the same situation in the history of CāņakyaCandragupta. He describes in a brief manner, the story of the preceptor Susthita and his two junior disciples. The cūrņikāra elaborates the story with interesting details and appropriate conversa
tions.
It seems that, the severe drought in Magadha, led the Jaina ācāryas to formulate new rules for the monks and nuns. (C) Nisitha-bhāsya, gāthās 5137; 5138 ; 5139 :
मुरियादी आणाए , अणवत्थ परंपराए थिरकरणं । मिच्छत्तं संकादी , पसज्जणा जाव चरिमपदं ।। अवराहे लहुगतरो , किं णु हु आणाए गुरुतरो दंडो । आणाए च्चिय चरणं , तब्भंगे किं न भग्गं तु ।।
भत्तमदाणमडते , आणठ्ठवणंब छेत्तु वंसवती । गविसण पत्त दरिसिते , पुरिसवति सबालडहणं च ।।
The main topic of discussion in the Niśītha-sūtra is - "Whether 'a fault' is more serious or breaking a particular order' is more serious offence ?'' The word 'muriya' is Candragupta Maurya. It is