Narrative Tale in Jain Literature

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

Page 69

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NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
sight has been vouchsafed. I can recognize and behold, towards the East, in the salt sea, an area of five hundred yojanas (as above, § 74, down to) the Loluyachchua hell." 84. Then that blessed Goyama spoke thus to Ananda, the servant of the Samana: "It is so, Ananda, that to a householder (as above, § 83, down to) may be vouchsafed; but certainly not such a very extensive one. Therefore do thou, Ananda, acknowledge thy sin in this matter, promise amendment, and take upon thee a penance."
85. Then that Ananda spoke thus to the blessed Goyama "Is it so, Reverend Sir, that according to the word of the Jina, one should make acknowledgment of sin and (as above, § 84, down to) take upon one's self a penance regarding things that are true, real genuine and actual?" Goyama replied: "No, it is not so."
Ananda continued: "If, Reverend Sir, according to the word of the Jina, one need not make acknowledgement of sin regarding things that are true (and so forth, as above), nor (as above, § 84, down to) take upon one's self a penance, then, Reverend Sir, do you indeed yourself acknowledge your sin in this matter and (as above, § 84, down to) take on yourself a penance."
86. Then that blessed Goyama, being thus spoken to by Ananda, the servant of the Samana, becoming doubtful, unsettled, and filled with distrust, departed again from the presence of Aṇanda; and having done so, he returned to where the Samana, the blessed Mahāvīra, was in the Düipalāsa cheïya. Having arrived there, and standing at a little distance from the Samana, the blessed Mahāvīra, he confessed any sins he had committed during his going and comming; then he gave an account of what he had accepted and what he had refused as alms; and next he showed what he had brought with him as his food and drink. Having done so, he praised and worshipped the Samana, the blessed Mahāvīra, and then spake to him thus: "Truly, Reverend Sir, having obtained permission from you I went (and so forth; here he related everything exactly as it had happened, see §§ 78 85, down to), then becoming doubtful (etc. see § 86) I departed again from the presence of Ananda, the servant of the Samana; and having done so, I returned quickly to this place. Now, Reverend Sir, tell me, is it for Ananda, the servant of the Samana to
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