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PRAVACANASĀRA.
SUTTA-PĀHUDA: It has 27 gāthās. The contents of the sūtras are given by Arahantas, while for their proper textual form the Ganadharás are responsible; thus the contents are handed down from teacher to pupil (1-2). A needle with sūtra (i. e. thread ) is not lost, so a man with (the knowledge of) sūtra (i. e. the sacred text) is not lost in samsāra (3-4). The purport of the sacred texts, as preached by the Jina, comprises various topics such as Jiva
and Ajīva; of these the man of Right faith should discriminate which is -, acceptable (upādeya) and which is rejectable (hcya); by studying this in its
ordinary and realistic aspects, one attains happiness after destroying karmic dirt (6). Being devoid of scriptural knowledge, if one leads a life without control (sacchamdan), sin is the only consequence (9). The unique path, leading to liberation, consists in giving up clothes and eating in the cavity_of palms (10). The greatest regard (candanā) is deserved by such monks who are self-controlled, free from sin, enduring 22 disturbances (parīsaha) and capable of destroying karmas; while other monks, endowed with Faith and
Knowledge but still using clothes, deserve only formal greeting (iochālāra) - (11-13). Even a hair-point of paraphernalia is harmful to a monk; he eats
only once the food offered in the cavity of his palms; he is in the state in -- which he is born (jala-jaya-rūva-sarişo); and he never takes anything, not
even the sesamum-husk, by his hands ( 17 ff.). The nirgrantha type is the best, then comes that of a house-holder who is spiritually advanced (20-21). The ascetic emblem prescribed for women is that she takes 'meals once and has a garment which she retains even when she takes meals. Women are forbidden from accepting severe types of asceticism such as nakedness, because they are constitutionally unfit: there is a growth of subtle living beings in their organ of generation, between their breasts, in their navel and armpits; their mind is fickle and devoid of purity; they have monthly courses; and they i cannot concentrate undisturbed. If they have faith, they go along the track possessed of the ascetic emblem noted above (22-25). When a man has to accept something, it should be in a little quantity: even though there is plenty of water in the ocean, only a small quantity is taken for washing purposes; those who are free from desires are free from miseries (27).
BODHA.PAHUDA: This pāhuda has 62 gāthīs distributed over eleven topics which are enumerated (3-4) after the benedictory verses (1-2). 7. āyadana (Sk, āyatana), spiritual or religious support or resort: The great saint, who is self-controlled in every way, who has curbed the passions etc., Trho is endowed with five great vows, and who, possessed of knowledge and pure meditation, has realised his self, is a religious resort or support (5-7). 2. cediharam (Sk. caityagrham), holy edifice: The soul, constituted of knowledge and pure with five full vows, is itself the holy edifice; according to 'the Jaina creed it is beneficial to six kinds of embodied beings; it serves as a means for bondage and liberation, for happiness and misery according to individuals devoted thereto (8-9). 3. padima (Sk. pratimā), image or idol : The inage to be worshipped represents a bondless and passionless condition; When movable, it is that of a great saint, otherwise that of a Siddha who is
