________________
INTRODUCTION
all incentive to sex-passion has to be abandoned: then and thus alone human life is made fruitful by practising severe penances which, in due course, lead one to the bliss of self-realization. The concluding verse explains how this prakarana is a veritable medicinal wick.
XIII. The Rşabha-stotram (RS, Prākrit verses 60 ) 'Prayer to Ķşabha': This is a prayer offered to Ķsabha, the first Tirthakara. Incidentally it covers his biographical details in their mythological setting, almost from conception to his attainment of omniscience. Then are described his supernatural glories in the Samavasaraṇa, especially the eight prātihiryas. The anekānta preached by him enlightens the right path which rescues one from the misery of saṁsāra. His greatness is unparellelled, his knowledge is all comprehensive, and his great qualities are beyond a poet's comprehension.
XIV. The Darsana-stutih (DS, Prākrit verses 34) 'A prayer (offered) at the sight of (the image of) Jina (in the temple)': Here the various direct as well as indirect effects, results or fruits of seeing Jina are described very often with striking similes.
XV. The Śrutadevata-stutiḥ (SD, verses 31). "Praise of Śrutadevatā ': When the Tirthakara attains Kevalajñāna, his divine deep voice ( divya-dhvani) flows out transforming itself into the various languages of the hearers; and it is this vīņi that is the basis of the conception of Śruta-devatā, Śaradā etc. who is given an embodied form, called also Sarasvati, Ambā, all-white etc. Praise is offered to her who is an eternal effulgence, who bestows wisdom and poetic faculty, who shows a clear path, without whose aid life loses its purpose, who is devoted to by Ganadharas ( that explain the divya-dhvani), who is manifest in Anga texts and who opens the outlet to the highest knowledge etc. By reciting this hymn, one crosses the ocean of poetry and that of Samsāra.
XVI. The Svayambhū-stutiḥ (SV, verses 24) 'Prayer to (twenty four Tīrthakaras beginning with Svayambhū, Adijina or Ķşabha)': Each stanza is a prayer offered to one Tirthakara in a poetic style, sometime referring to his spiritual or religious benevolence, sometime giving an etymology or explanationi of his name and sometime mentioning some significant trait or event in his spiritual career.
XVII. The Suprabhātāstckam (SA, verses 8) 'Eight stanzas on the Blessed morning': The blessed morning has a symbolic meaning here. When the night and the consequent sleep of the Ghātiyā Karmas have reached their termination, the two eyes of omniscience jñāna and darsana, open for the Jina: his omnipresent knowledge enlightens the whole universe, all perverted views are dispelled and the right path is shown to all for their spiritual benefit. It is this suprabhata, the dawning of omniscient blessedness, that is glorified here in a florid style.
