Prashamratiprakaran

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

Page 95

प्रशमरतिप्रकरणम् द्रमकैरिव चटुकर्मकमुपकारनिमित्तकं परजनस्य ।
कृत्वा यद्वारलभ्यकमवाप्यते को मदस्तेन ? ॥९३॥ What is the use of pride of popularity which is obtained, like a beggar through flattery of others, for the sake of self interest. ? 93.
गर्व परप्रसादात्मकेन वाल्लभ्यकेन यः कुर्यात् ।
तद्वाल्लभ्यकविगमे शोकसमुदयः परामशति ९४॥ He, who takes pride in (cheep) popularity which is based on favourable nature of others, will be seized by multitude of grief, once that popularity disappears. 94.
माषतुषोपाख्यानं श्रुतपर्यायप्ररूपणां चैव । श्रुत्वाऽतिविस्मयकरं च विकरणं स्थूलभद्रमुनेः ।।९५॥ सम्पर्कोद्यमसुलभं चरणकरणसाधक+1 श्रुतज्ञानम् ।
लब्ध्वा सर्वमदहरं तेनैव मदः कथं कार्यः ? ।।९६।। Listening to the story of Māşatușa13, various kinds of meanings (of some sütra) of Agamas and Sthūlabhadramuni's 14 amazing body transformation into lion); ( and ) having obtained knowledge of Agamas, the annihilator of all kinds of prides, which is easily obtainable by association (with the wise) and efforts, and which causes the accomplishment of the fundamental and sub-qualities; how can one feel proud of that very knowledge (of Āgamas). 95-96.
13. The stories of Mäşatusa and Sthūlabhadra Muni, mentioned in this
verse are often quoted in Jain literature to preach that no one should be proud of one's own knowledge and even one who has no sāstric knowledge may obtain Kevalajñāna simply by firm faith and penance.
Māşituşa was born in a low-caste family (ābhīra). He was not a learned man. Because of his good qualities, he was initiated into Jain monkhood by a great spiritual teacher. His teacher, knowing his inability in Šāstric lore, instructed him to concentrate only on two words, viz., 'Mā rușa' and 'Mā tuşa', i.e., not to be angry and not to be contended by worldly things respectively to obtain Kevalainana. Māşatusa was not even able to pronounce these two words properly. But he was having unflinching faith in the words of his Guru. He started reciting and coacentcating only on two words, viz., Māşa and tuşa omitting 'ru' and 'ma' respectively. This incident became responsible for his name as Māşatuşa. Co-monks and others made fun of his ignorance. But unmoved by any kind of fun or distur.' bance, he performed twelve years penance with firm faith and btained Kevalajñāna ia the end. This story tells us that for attaining highesi
(Continued)