Jaina Sutras 02 Uttaradhyayan Sutra and Sutrakritang Sutra

Author(s): Hermann Jacobi
Publisher: Max Muller

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INTRODUCTION.
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sins of the body, as the Nigantha Nâtaputta contends. In the beginning of the discourse Upâli states that his master uses the term danda, punishment, for what is commonly called kamma, deed, act. This is true, though not quite to the letter; for the word kamma occurs also in the Gaina Sûtras in that sense. The term danda, however, is at least as frequently used. Thus, in the Sûtrakritânga II, 2, p. 357 ff., the thirteen kinds of committing sins' are treated of, and in the first five cases the word which I have translated committing sins' is in the original dandasamâdâne, and in the remaining cases kiriya thâne, i.e. kriyâsthâna.
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The Nigantha Upâli goes on to explain that there are three dandas, the danda of body, that of speech, and that of mind. This agrees with the Gaina doctrine expressed in nearly the same words in the Sthânânga Sûtra, 3rd uddêsaka (see Indian Antiquary, IX, p. 159).
The second statement of Upâli, that the Niganthas consider sins of the body more important than sins of the mind, is in perfect harmony with Gaina views. For in the Sûtrakritânga II, 4, p. 398 ff., the question is discussed whether sins may be committed unconsciously, and it is boldly answered in the affirmative (compare note 6, p. 399) ; and in the Sixth Lecture of the same book (p. 414) the Buddhists are severely ridiculed for maintaining that it depends on the intention of the man whether a deed of his be a sin or not.
In the Anguttara Nikâya III, 70, 3, some practices of Nigantha laymen are discussed. I translate the passage thus: O Visâkhâ, there is a class of Samanas who are called Niganthas. They exhort a Sâvaka thus: "Well, sir, you must desist from doing injury to beings in the East beyond a yôgana from here, or to those in the West, North, South, always beyond a yôgana from here." In this way they enjoin tenderness by making him spare some living beings; in this way they enjoin cruelty by making him not spare other living beings.' It is not difficult to recognise under these words the Digvirati vow of the Gainas, which
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