Jain Journal 1969 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 49

GOSALAMATAM
-an evaluation of the Gosala episode as contained in the fifteenth chapter of the Bhagavati Sutra
RAM PRAKASH PODDAR
Winternitz alleges that most of the Jaina canons are written fin a dry-as-dust, matter-of-fact, didactic tone' and ‘are seldom instinct with that general human interest which so many Buddhist texts possess'. The allegation is not wholly justifiable, for the manner of their narration is far from being dry-as-dust, although the matter in many cases may not be instinct with general human interest. Not only the verses but also the prose of the Āgamas marks the perfection of the narrative style. It is smooth and rhythmical, all angularities and ruggedness having been carefully eliminated to render it fit for oratory. Sentences are broken into small patches which are well balanced ; caesuras are so placed that the total effect is perfectly rhythmical. The tone very effectively adapts itself to the changing mood of the narratives ; alliterations and assonances, onomatopoeic effects and repetitions are purposively used to render the meaning vivid and picturesque. We have reasons to believe that most of these passages must have, many a time, held the audience spell-bound and it must have been a pleasant task for the monks to remember them and to recite them to the congregations. But for these interests, these would have not at least with-stood the severe onslaught of time.
'Gosalamatam', the fifteenth chapter of the Bhagavati Sutra which not only shares all the general characteristics of the canonical prose but has also its individual literary merits as a narrative, is taken up to illustrate the above points.
The chapter constitutes an organic whole by itself. It aims neither to relate directly the legend of Gosala nor to give an objective account of his doctrines; it rather attempts an exposition of Gosala's character as it has appeared to the author.
According to this, Gosala appears initially to be a disciple of Lord Mahavira. Later, he established an independent sect, the Ajivikas, and entered into rivalry with him. But he got defeated and before the end of his life he sincerely repented for his evil deeds. This chapter of the Bhagavatî Sūtra presents this schism in a significant way.