Narrative Tale in Jain Literature

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

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NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
different pariṣahas which are twenty-two in number; similar stories are found in other contexts too. Daśavaikālika-ni., in course of the exposition of Udaharaṇa, gives important references (verse 61 etc.) which presuppose, if not written, at least oral Kathanakas. In other contexts (verses 77, 81, 87, 162, 239 etc.) either proper names are mentioned or significant catch-words are given which become meaningful only when the legends are added in detail. Even the Nandisūtra gives certain verses, perhaps of a traditional nature, which enumerate illustrative terms sela-ghana etc. to characterise good and bad pupils; and these have occasioned elaborate stories. As yet we have no clear idea about the early sources of these Kathānakas. It appears from certain references that some Kathānakas were present in the Dṛṣṭivāda, which is lost now; and the details of such a Kathānaka of an elephant are mentioned in the Maranasamāhi Païņņa (verses 512-20). The Avasyaka-ni is a pretty important text, or at least it has been given that importance by some of the extensive commentaries written by celebrated authors. The text affords many occasions for introducing Kathānakas, say in applying Anuyogas, in illustrating Buddhis, in the context of correct reading of the text etc.16 Consequently the Cūrṇi, Bhāṣya and Ṭīkā have been replete with Kathanakas, both in Prakrit and Sanskrit, and the total bulk of these stories is of staggering magnitude.17 Leumann has already summarised the stories on the Dašavaikālika-ni. and edited separately a few stories from the Avasyaka-cūrņi and Haribbadra's Ṭikā.18 Besides consistently giving a complete account of the stories already referred to in the canonical texts, the commentators like Haribhadra, Śīlāṁka, Śāntyācārya, Devendra, Malayagiri and Abhayadeva have not only drawn upon earlier
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16. Śrī-Viseṣāvaśyaka, with Gujarati translation, parts 1-2, Agamodayasamiti, Bombay 1924-7, pp. I. 509, II. 513 etc. 17. The volumes of Bṛhatkalpasūtra, five of which are already out (Bhavanagar 1933-38), are rich in illustrative narratives.
18. Daśavaikālika-sūtra and -niryukti ZDMG, 46, Leipzig 1892; Die Avasyaka-Erzählungen, Leipzig 1897.