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known as (i) Sāmā iya (sāmāyika) desisting from all evil, and equanimity of mind), (ii) Cauvīsattbava (eulogy of the twenty-four Tirthankaras), (iii) Vandaņaya (veneration of the teacher), (iv) paờikkamaņi (pratikramana) (confession and expiation), (v) kāussagga (kāyotsarga), (asceticism, indifference to the body), (vi) paccakkhāņa (renunciation of sensual pleasures, etc). According to Bhadrabāhu, the Sāmāyika stands at the head of all scriptural knowledge. Conduct or character is the very essence of scriptural knowledge, and emancipation that of conduct.* Thus the Sámāyika is shown to be related to the ultimate good-emancipation (moksa). Bhadrabābu has also pointed out that after Lord Mahāvīra attained omniscience, his first preaching was in essence the teaching of sāmāyika, and his Gañadbaraz, after their discussion with bim, sat at his feet and received instruction first of all regarding the sāmāyika. This explains why Jinabba lra thought it fit to compose bis encyclopaedic Višeşāvaśyaka containing 3606 verses as a commentary on the first chapter, Sāmāyika of the Āvašyakasūtra, along with its Niryukti (commentary) by Bhadrabāhu.
Bhadrabābu in his Niryukti by way of introduction to the Sāmāyika chapter gives a detailed account of how Lord Mahavira attained omniscience (kevala-jñāpa) He went to the Mahāsena-vana in Madhyamāpāvā where the gods had arranged a great assembly (sama vasarana) in honour of Lord Mabāvīra, the sovereign in the kingdom of religion (539-40). In the same city, a brahmin Somilārya was performing a sacrifice to participate in which learned men from far off regions had come. The gods were, however, rejoicing in the as embly in bonour of Mabăvira to the north of this sacrificial assembly, the people in which were under the impression that the gods being delighted at their performance were coming in the direction of the sacrifice. But they were surprised to find that the gods moved onwards towards the north. When they came to know of the honour done to Mahāvīra by the gods, Indrabhūti,
* See Āvaśyaka-niryukti, 93. § See Avaśyaka-niryukti 733-745.
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