Jain Journal 1985 01

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

Page 32

JANUARY, 1985
93
“They (the monks of Mahavira) were väst candana kalpāh i.e. having completely abated hatred and love, they had equal consideration for the evil-doer as well as benefactor who were like yāsi and candana respectively.”
In his commentary, Abhayadeva Suri does not give the (literal) meaning of vāsi and candana but takes them metaphorically by equating the evil-doer with vāsi and a benefactor with candana. However, his interpretation implies that comprehending väst to be an instrument used in cutting, he equates it with an evil-door.
(6) An important Jain canon Praśna Vyākarana Sūtra, the ninth Anga also gives us a clue to the right interpretation of the above phrase. In one place where a list of several weapons is given, vāsī is included in it. The original text runs thus :25
puvvakammakaya samcayovatattā nirayaggi-mahaggi sampalittā... imehim vivihehim āyuhehim kimte? moggaa-musumdhi-karakayasatti ... khaggacāya - nārāya - kanaka - kappani-vāsi-parasu-dhanka nikkha, nimmala annehiya eyamādiehim asubhehim veuyviehim paharanasattehim anubaddha tivvaverā paroppara veyanam udirenti abhihananta...
The above passage describes the sufferings of denisens of hell ; they (the denisens of hell) on account of their own bad activities take birth in hell and undergo various kinds of agonies. They give pains to each other by fighting with various weapons such as mace, a sort of missile, saw, lance, sword, bow, arrow, scissors, adze and hatchet etc.
This list contains the term vāsi. It should mean an adze, the instrument used by the carpenter for cutting the wood. The term parašu used here with vāsi also denotes a tool of the carpenter, meaning an axe. Vāsi, therefore; should also mean adze or hatchet.
(7) The word väsī is used in Uttarādhyayana Sūtra also in another place. In a list of the insects possessing two sense-organs, an insect called yāsīmuha (skt. vāsi-mukha) is mentioned.26 Almost all the commentators translate it as an insect possessing the mouth like an adze.27 It is
25 Prasna Vyakarana Sutra, Asrava Dvara I, 1/5/4. 26 kimino sumangala ceva alasa mayavahaya/ vasimuha ya sippi ya samkha samkhanaga taha||
-Uttaradhyayana Sutra, 36/129 27 See for example, commentary by Laxmi Vallabha, p.1244.