Jain Journal 1971 04

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

Page 54

The Story of the Mariner Makandiyas
Navamam Ajjhayanam, Nāyādhammakahão
( The Nāyādhammakahāo (Jñātādharmakatha) which is also called Nāyasūya is the sixth Arga. It comes under the narrative literature of the Jainas. Ardha-Magadhi Naya is the same as Sanskrit Jñāta. The title may be explained as 'Stories for the Dhamma of Naya (Jnatr), i.e., Mahavira, who is also called Jnatrputra, Naya or Nataputta. Besides legends and fables we find in it romantic stories and adventures, tales of robbers, mariners, etc. Steinthal (Specimen der Nayadhammakaha, Diss Leipzig, 1881), W. Huttemann (Die Jnata Erzahlungen im sechsten Anga des kanons der Jinisten, Strassburg, 1907), and E. Leumann (Wiener Zeitschrift fur die Kunde des Morgenlandes, 3, 1889) have carefully studied this Sutra. The interesting Story of the Mariner Makandiyas is being presented here. ]
In those days, in those times, there was a city named Campa. ... There lived a merchant named Makandi. ... He had a wife named Bhadra. (They) had two sons, named Jinapalita and Jinaraksita. ... (One day they went) to their parents (and) said: “We have crossed the Salt Sea eleven times in a ship, and every time we have returned home successful in all our missions, having earned money and without suffering any losses at all. It would be better for us, therefore, to cross the Salt Sea for the twelfth time if you so permit.” (They replied): “Here is (enough property and wealth), ... children, to be shared (between you two). You may therefore, enjoy in plenty all the human pleasures as well as a multi