Jain Journal 1974 01

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

Page 16

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JAIN JOURNAL
on Kalpaka. Nanda urged Kalpaka to accept the exalted post, but being of a religious disposition, Kalpaka refused the offer and returned to his house. Nanda, however, did not give up his efforts. On acccount of an extra-ordinary incident, Kalpaka was however obliged to accept the post of Prime Minister. . While dealing with his religious conviction, Acarya Haribhadra 25 and Acarya Hemacandra have proved that Kalpaka was a Jaina. Acarya Hemacandra has categorised him as a brother Sravaka 26. Kalpaka's father was also a Jaina Sravaka 27.
In the Nanda dynasty, there were seven Nandas in succession. Kalpaka's family also produced many wise and able persons and all of them adorned the post of Prime Minister. During the regime of the seventh Nanda, Sakadala was the Prime Minister. While discharging the onerous duties of the Prime Minister, he followed the religious tradition of Kalpaka 28.
Canakya, although not born in the family of Kalpaka, kept the Sravaka tradition undiminished and successfully administered the empire with foresight.
According to the Jaina Purāņas, wearing of sacred thread was first introduced in the age of Lord Rsabhadeva by the first Cakravarti (universal-monarch) Bharata29 At that time and thereafter, eminent Sravakas used to wear it. Even today many Jainas wear the sacred thread.
Although he was the Prime Minister, Canakya was a man of a contented disposition. Acarya Hemacandra, the author of Avašyaka Curnī and Acarya Haribhadra have referred to this contentment in him while implying the high qualities of Canakya as a Sravaka. This contentment was evident till the end of his life. In Mudrā-Rākşasa drama, the contentment of Canakya, the Prime Minister, has been eulogised in the following terms :
upala sakala metad bhedakam gomayānām vatubhirupadītānām barhişām stoma esa saraṇamapi samidbhih suś pamāṇāmi rābhirvinamita pathalāntam dřśyate jirņam kudyam
(A small piece of stone for breaking the cow-dung cakes, grass plucked by students and the collected fire woodmthese are all. And a cottage with a bent thatch and dilapidated walls.)