Jain Journal 1992 10

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

Page 28

OCTOBER, 1992
73
oil such as hamisatella satapāgatella, sahassapăgatella and marutella are also mentioned in Jaina canons for external use, 17 Besides medical treatment surgical operation also seems to have becn carried out.
Here we meet an important experiment curing a patient of leprosy by Jivānanda as recorded by Hemacandra.18 Jivānanda was born as the son of the physician Suvidhi at the city of Kşitipratişthita in Videha. He studied, the science of Ayurveda in all its eight branches and rasa (taste) vīrya (power), and vipata (efficacy of the drugs). As such he became the foremost amongst physicians, full of wisdom and unquestionable skill, even like the sun among the planets.
One day when Jivānanda was sitting with his five friends at his residence a Jaina monk arrived there begging alms for breaking his three-days fast. He was none else but prince Guņākara, son of King Prthvipāla, who had taken to monkhood abandoning the kingdom like dirt. His body had emaciated on account of penances even as the current of a river due to summer heat. Moreover he was afilicted by worm leprosy on whole of his body on account of eating untimely and unwholesome food. Being desirous of emancipation, he never cared for any cure of this disease.
On beholding the leprous monk prince Mabidhara, one of his friends, said tauntingly to Jivananda, "You do possess thorough knowledge of the disease, its drugs and its treatment ; the only thing wanting in you is just compassion. Alas ! like courtesans, you people won't even look at a patient unless he pays your fees, even though he might be well-acquainted, suffering; the discerning ones however should not solely be greedy ; in some cases treatment must be offered for the sake of dharma. Fie upon all your efforts in treatment as well as diagonosis that you are disregarding such a worthy one afflicted with a disease."19 Jivānanda retorted promptly, "Well said, my noble friend. You have struck me with wonder. Indeed, a Brahmaņa without animosity, a merchant not deceitful, a lover free from jealousy, an embodied one free from diseases, a scholar who is Wealthy, a virtuous one lacking pride, a woman not fickle, and a prince with good behaviour are seldom seen,"20 He further stated
17 Nišitha Curņi, p. 109; Bịhatkalpa Bhasya, p. 6031. 18 Sri Jain Atmananda Sabha edition of the First Parvan, edited by Muni Caturvijyaji,
Bhavanagar. 1936, verse 718-788. 19 Ibid., verses, 738-741. 20 Ibid., verses, 742-44.