Idea of Ahimsa and Asceticism in Ancient Indian Tradition

Author(s): Bansidhar Bhatt
Publisher: B J Institute

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THE IDEA OF AHIMSA ....
This is an earliest record on the basis of which, a medical or a metaphorical interpretation of such sätras referring to meateating is suggestive in the Jaina tradition. Silanka's (ca. 9th cent. AD, in Cambay, Gujarat) commentary on the Ayara is the first available interpretation of the type (see below) in Jainism.
Also the Carņi on the Dasaveyaliya attributed to Jinada sa explains the verse 73 without twisting its normal meaning. He says : though the meat is not to be accepted by the monks or the nuns, but this satra (i.e. vs. 73) somehow being contingent on time and place, by chance, appeared here. The verse means : meat with many bones and fish with many thorns should be avoided- (so far it is possible, they should be handed over back?):
kim ca "bahu-atthiyam" silogo: maqsam va n' eva kappati sa hanam. kamci kalam desam paducca imam suttam agatam.
"bahu-atthiyam va mamsam va maccham va bahu-kantayam /" pariharitavva /
.(Dasa-Corņi-SS. p.184, lines 12-13)
It seems, this verse 73 in the Dasaveyaliya version used by Jina da sa for his Carni-interpretation is the same one, viz. the satra 403 in the yara cited above. It is without any alteration. Further, the author of the Carni explains vss.84-85 that, in case the monks (and nuns) depending on time and place (i.e. in crisis) accept meat or fish with many bones or thorns, then they should not take out the bones or thorns by hands throw them away anywhere, but should go to a lonely place and keep them in a bare (pure ?) ground:
... jai tassa sa huno tattha bhunja manssa desa-kaladini paducca gahie mamsâ die anna-pane atthi kantaka va hujja ... (vs.84). ..
tthigå di hatthå dina no ukkhiviana nikkhivejja... tamha ... eg'-antam avakkmejja ... accitte thandile ... padittha vejja ... / (Dasa-Cumi-ss. p.187, lines 9-14 and p.188, lines 1-2).
The second Carni on the Dasaveyaliya (ascribed to Agastyasimha, ca. 6th or 7th cent. AD, place ?) has nothing to add further to an explanation of the verses (73, 84-85, etc. ): ... poggale prani-vikaro, tam bahu-atthitam niva rijjati /
. : (Dasa-Carņi-PTS. pp.118 and 121).