Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canons

Author(s): Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: New Book Company

Page 69

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
1991
forcible entry into the residence of monks and threatened them with death.28 Thc thieves were expert in making brcaches in the wall. Various types of the brcaches of the wall are mentioned, uiz , the bicach of thc shape of a cornice (kavisīsa), jar (kalasa), fish (nandiratta)," lotus and a human being It is stated that once a burglar was caught in the breach he had cxcavated, by the owner of the house who took hold of his feet protruding from the breach. But the burglar's companions dragged him out from the other side of the wall Caught in this position he was smashed by the cornice coming down * The robbers came out at night and at times lived on half-burnt corpses, flesh of wild animals and roots.25
The Vivāgasuya describes Vijaya of Sālādavi who was the ling-leader of the robbers who aimed at the objcct on hearing its sound (saddavehi) and was the foremost warrior in wielding the sword He gaye shelter to adulterers, pick-pockets, thieves and many other undesirable persons. He raided towns and villages, lifted cattle, took captives, waylaıd travellers, terroriscd pcople by breaking open their walls, tortured them, destroyed thcir property and cxtracted money from them by force * Then we hear of Cilaya, a slave-boy (dāsaceda) of Dhanna of Rayagilia. Being dismissed by his master from service he approached Vijaya, the leader of five hundred robbers of Sihaguhā and joined his gang. The leader of the robbers appointed him as his body-guard with a sword in his hand (asılatthiggaha). Vijaya taught him various spells (vijā) and incantations (manta) ctc, in connection with the art of larceny In course of time, Vijaya dicd and Culāya was appointed in his place. Oncc Cılāya proposed to commit a dacoity in the house of Dhanna. The robbers got rcady cquipped thicmschies well with swords, bows, arrows and valious other weapons and marched towards Rāyagiha, amidst thc bcating of drums, to invest the housc of Dhanna Thc robbers reached the city-gatc , their ring-lcader rccited the spell which could open thc locks (uilugghidanīvic),27 took out water from his water bag (udagabatthi) and sprinkled it orci thc doo15 Thc doors wcic opened and Cılāya, along with his party i ushed into the city. He challenged the citizens to stop him and along with huge amount of wcalth, carried off Sumsumnā, the daughter of Dhanna to thic forcst 28
The commentary on the Uttaridhyayana mentions another robber Mandiya by namc Mandiya tied a bandage round his kncc and pretended that he was suffering from a festciing boil (cut thagama). He worked as a tailor (lunnia) during the day timc and robbed the people
2 Brh Blá, 3 3903 , also cf Cond Sulta in thc Ingultara, IV, p 339
23 Nandıyavallu is the naine of a hugc fish (thc com. on the Anguliara (5.II.B ), I, p. 205 after Malalasekara, op cit, II, p 29 )
24 Ullarā. T7, , P 804 f. 25 Panha , 3, p. 45a 26 3, p. 20, also Naya , 18, p. 208 f.
21 Thieves also carried ägnieyakila to extinguish the lamps ; Radha Govind Basaka I.M.2 Vol. V, 1929, p. 313, see Dasakumaracanta, p. 77, Kale, Bonabay, 1928.
28 Naya., 18, p. 209 ff.