Jain Journal 1985 01

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

Page 39

100
JAIN JOURNAL
"Someone cuts him with adze and someone anoints him with the sandalwood ; then he has equal sentiment for both without having any love or hatred for either.”
Similarly, Amrita Candra Suri, in his translation of Uvavāi Sutra, 55 Muni Hastimal in his translation of Praśna Vyākarna Sūtra56 and Muni Atmaram in the Hindi commentary to the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra57 have interpreted it as above.
In one of the recent publications of the Uvavāi Sūtra, the translator has given several interpretations of vāsi candana-kalpa, as follows :58
(1) The sandalwood perfumes even the edge of the adze which cuts
it, because it is the nature of the sandalwood to give scent ; in the same way to have an intention of doing benefit even to an evil-doer.
(2) To show equal feelings towards an evil-doer acting like an adze
as well as a benefactor giving coolness like sandalwood—to show neither hatred nor love.
(3) To keep equanimity of mind towards a person causing pain by
the weapon and the one anointing with sandalwood.
It should be observed here that in these interpretations, vāsi is throughout understood as 'an adze'. The various interpretations seem to be based on different commentators. In the first two interpretations, the phrase is interpreted metaphorically, while the third one is literal explanation.
We come across the use of the words vāsī and candana in many noncanonical works. We quote here a few of them merely for an illustration.
(1) Eminent litterateur Hemacandra elucidating the highest stage of equanimity observes : 59
65 Uvavai Sutra, pub by Rai Dhanpat Singh Bahadur, Calcutta, 1936, p.100. 56 Prasna Vyakarana Sutra, pub by Hastimal Surana, Pali, 1950, p. 42. 57 Uttaradhyayana Sutra, pub by Jain Sastra Mala Karyalaya, Lahore, 1934,
Vol. II, 19/92. 58 Uvavai Sutra, tr by Muni Umesh Chandra Anu', published by A.B. Sadhumarge
Jain Samskriti Rakshaka Samgha, Sailana (Madhya Pradesh), 1963, p.101. " 59 Yogasastra Prakasa by Hemacandra, pub by Jain Dharm Prasarak Sabhai
Bhavnagar, 1915, 4-54 (ii).