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Introduction ISHTOPADESHA (ECETT ) (Happy sermons) is a didactic poem of 51 Stanzas in Sanskrit by Swami Pujyapada, a great saint of India, born in the Karnataka region in the 5th century A.D.* He was the preceptor of Durvinit, the then ruling King of the great Ganga dynasty of the Deccan. His real name was Devanandi but being held in high esteem by all, he was renowned as Pujyapada i.e. one whose feet are worth worshipping. For his lofty thinking, pure living and high order of asceticism as described in many inscriptions and Shastras of Karnataka, he was known as one who was untouched by earth, and whose ablution water of feet could change iron into gold.
Besides being a saint of high repute, he was a great scholar and thinker of his times. For his lucid style, precise expression and masterly exposition of the subject he has held a revered place amongst all Indian writers. His works on medicine, grammer, prosody and Jain philosophy, have always been regarded as works of standard value by all the subsequent scholars of India.
Amongst these works his Sarvarth Siddhi (Hafifuft), a commentary on Tattvarth Sutra (arata)-a compendium of Jain Metaphysics and cosmology written by Uma Swami of the first century A.D. in aphorisms-is a work of rare value, being a key to this vast treasure of knowledge. Jainendra Vyakarana ( TFT) is an equally important work on grammer written by him.
Samadhi Shatak (T F ) ("Equanimity'') in 100 stanzas is an-other didactic poem composed by him. It is a work of about double the size of Ishtopadesha and is an outcome of his deep thinking and realisation of truth. This work undoubtedly possesses a rare spiritual charm. It provides a consolation to an afflicted mind, and an inspiring vision of the divine life to seeker after truth.
To advance, the cultural relationship between the East and the West-a dire need of our times, I have for the present selected Ishtopadesha-"Happy Sermons." as the first offering for being presented to the western peoples in a western garb.
In order that readers who take liking to these sermons, may remember them by heart, the translation has been done in a versified form; stanza, for stanza, but where the literal and formal translation of a stanza was unintelligible to convey the full substance of the pithy sayings and abstruse ideas condensed in it, a free and liberal style has been applied to expand it into several stanzas. Though taking this freedom with the style, the matter has been arranged in the same order as has been adopted by the original author. Every stanza of the original poem, whether rendered singly or in an expanded form has been numbered in its serial order on the left hand side, while the verses of this expanded composition have been numbered on the right hand side of the margin. Headings have been newly inserted to show the themes of the succeeding verses.
As to how far I have been able to fill up these verses with spirit which the saint wishes to convey through these sermons, is to be judged by the fancy, bestowed by western readers on this composition. In case it bears good fruits I shall try to offer Samadhi Shatak also in its versified form as a next contribution to the noble cause of strengthening the cultural relations between the East and the West.
The original text of the poem in Sanskrit has also been printed in this publication so the lovers of oriental studies have a facility of consulting it, and enjoying the original work of the master poet. Panipat,
Jai Bhagwan Jain Mahavir Jayanti 1954
Advocate.
* B. Lewis Rice - Journal of Royal Asiatic Society-1800, p. 245 ff.
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