Prashamratiprakaran

Author(s): Umaswati, Umaswami, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 60

43.
The ten kinds of religious vritues (167) which are to be cultivated by a monk can be compared with ten kinds of Samanyadharma (general rules), viz., steadfastness, forgiveness, self-restraint, non-stealing, purity, self-control, wisdom, learning, truthfulness and restraint of anger as described in the Manusmrti. 120
The code of conduct for aspirants of mokṣa, prescribed in Prasamarati (58-63; 74, 89, 104, 112-120, 130-148 etc.), reminds us of code of conduct for munis, described in Santiparva of Mahabharata, where it is said that the aspirant of emancipation retiring from one's home, regarding gain and loss in the same light, restraining the senses and disregarding all objects of desire even when they are ready for enjoyment, one should adopt a life of renunciation. One should not disparage another, neither with eye nor with speech, nor in thought. One should not speak evil of any person either in or out of his hearing. The aspirant after mokṣa should abstain from injuring any creature and should not stay in one place, should not confine ones self to one spot, but roam or wander over the world without owning a fixed habitation. He should behave friendly with every creature. One should not go to any house having received previous invitation to dinner. He should content himself with only as much as is barely necessary for keeping his body and soul together. Even that much of food which produces gratification should not be coveted by him. He should not earn either merit or demerit by means of acts. He should be always well-contended, fearless, always engaged in mental recitation of sacred mantras, silent and wedded to a life of renunciation. He should control the rising impulses of works, of mind of wrath, of hunger and of lust. Devoted to penances for cleansing his heart he should never allow the censures (of others) to afflict his heart. One should live, having assumed a status of neutrality with respect to all creatures and regard praise and blame as equal. The muni should restrain his senses from all things and keep himself aloof from all attachments. This indeed is the holiest and the highest path of samnyasa mode of life. 121 Mahabharata asks us to give up attachment and aversion, greed, anger, deceit, pride, violence and to observe truthfulness, non-injury, modesty, forgiveness, straightforwardness, penance, meditation etc., for obtaining the highest good. 122 Even punya and papa, both are considered to be the causes of bondage of the soul and the aspirant can obtain liberation only after exhaustion of both merit and demerit. 133 The style of narrating passions and their consequences in Prasamarati reminds us of narration of Bhisma in Santiparva of Mahabharata. The description (Pr. 121) of ever changing momentary nature of union with worldly prosperity, pleasures and riches, which ends in separation, cause of untold misery is very much similar to the statements