________________
286
Nalini Balbir
Which type of pot cannot retain water for long-An uncooked one.
ämah
O intelligent fellows, what do you do concerning the treatise ? -We give (them) well (?; cf. rā dāne, Dhätup.) su-rämaḥ
Ajitasena's second instance reads:
* yāminīpratimāyoge kidṛśam yatinām kulam ?
kam vandante surā nityam ? kāmaṁ kim akarot sudhiḥ? (AC 2.57) abhyabhavam. abhi bhayarahitam. abhavam samsärahīnajanam. abhyabhavam niräkaromi sma.
Here again, a simple correction would suit the grammatical pattern of the riddle better. The answer as a verbal form is abhyabhavam, 1st person of the imperfect. The corresponding question should then normally include a second person: akaroḥ instead of akarot.
How is a group of Digambara monks when practising kayotsarga in the night ?-Without fear a-bhi
Who is it that the gods always respect ?-The one who is free from rebirth a-bhavam
O wise man, what did you do with desire ?-I overcame (it)
Jambu-jyoti
abhyabhavam
In this case, a comparison with the VMM further shows that Ajitasena has drawn inspiration from this work not only for definitions but also for illustrative verses, transforming what is found in VMM 2.38 in order to suit an ascetic context :
Jain Education International
samara-sirasi sainyam kidṛśam durniväram ? vigata-ghana-nisithe kidṛśe vyomni śobhā ?
kam api vidhi-vasena präpya yogyābhimanam jagad akhilam anindyam durjanah kim karoti ?
What type of army is difficult to attack at the front of a battle?
-The one who has no fear a-bhi
In a night without clouds in which type of sky is there light?
-In (a sky) with stars bhavati
When, by chance, he has got some reason to be arrogant, what does a bad fellow do with the whole world of unblamable people ?-He humiliates (them) abhibhavati
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
