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88 / The Rästrakūtas and Jainism
Guņabhadra, a celebrity of late ninth century, was deservedly entrusted with the stupendous task of Uttarapurāņa. He continued the epic in and around C. E. 850, and completed it at Bankāpura, in 8000 slökas. He first completed the remaining four chapters in Adipurāņa composing 1620 verses. Later, the poem could not progress as fast as was expected. The story of Bharata and Bāhubali, their conflict and battle over establishing supreme suzerainty on six parts of the universe - has found its best expression in the graphic description of Guṇabhadra.
4.5.6.5. Jinasēna had provided an infrastructure for his pupil. But Guņabhadra had intricate challenges of abbreviating the biographies of 61 'Great persons in the frame of uttarapurāņa. His humility was endless. With his unpretentiousness, ācārya Guņabhadra confesses that if his poem is laudable, it is the grace of his great teacher Jinasēna : "Because for the sweetness of fruits it is the tree that is responsible. Words descent from the heart and my heart is an abode of my learned master who is refining each and everyword. With Jinasēna's vouchsafement it is not at all difficult for me to complete Uttarapurāņa. While his disciples are easily crossing the ocean of worldly life with the help of Jinasēna's Adipurāņa, how can it be difficult for me to reach the shore of this Mahāpurāņa"?
4.5.6.5.1. Guņabhadra's contribution is plenteous and luxurious. Atmānusāsana and Jinadattacarita are his other poems, composed in simple and fluent style. Atmānušāsana, designed on the specimen of Vairāgya-sataka, centum of poet Bhartshari, has its theme relating to the soul, advocating disinterest in worldly matters. This short poem containing 272 stanzas, with its blooming tender style, wields influence on the readers. Acārya Prabhācandra has written a gloss in Sanskrit. There are commentaries in Kannada and Hindi also. These commentaries go to prove the popularity and prominence of Atmānusasana.
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