Dasaveyaliya Suttam

Author(s): K V Abhyankar
Publisher: K V Abhyankar

Page 7

DASAVEĀLIYA SUTTA
2. The origin of the Daśavaikālika Sūtra is tradi. tionally given in a very interesting way. Sejjambhava is said to have been the author of the book, and, as stated in the first note on Chapter I ( Notes pages 1-2) the book, in fact, is said to have been an extract-in-brief from the whole Canon. It defines monkhood, its strict observance and the glorious fruit resulting there-from. It was composed originally for the purpose of enlightening the boy-sage Managa within a short period of six months at the end of which he was to die. Sejjambhavs was the pupil of Prabhava, who in turn was the pupil of Jambu, the pupil of Sudharma, Mahāvīra's pupil. This order of the spiritual geneology shows that the Daśavaikālika Sūtra was composed by Sejjambhava 75 or 80 years after Mahāvīra's time and it could consequently be a faithful epitome giving the gist of the Āgama teaching which was thoroughly mastered by Sejjambhava together with the traditional expositions and interpretations.
3. A critical analysis of the contents of the Sūtra would show that the Sūtra enunciates the noblest principles of the Jain Faith which emphasizes with equal force right knowledge and right conduct as its constituents. The first chapter states that Religion consists of three things :-non-violence, self-restraint and penance. We have to take the things in this world as they are and we find that the souls of many individuals are sullied by the influx of sinful Karma-Pudgalas ; and, to find out and to lay down the right path to clarify the souls of the Karma-impurity form the aim and object respectively of every philosophy and religion. The work of clarification is two-fold (i) by stopping the further influx of Karma, and (ii) by destroying or removing the dirt of Karma that has already entered. The right understanding of the doctrine of non-violence which is essential for the undertaking of the Six Great Vows forms the