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Rishibhashit : A Study
69
village are same. Such soul can attain purity irrespective of being a monk or a citizen.
In this manner Sariputra emphasizes on purity of attitude and not the means; which is a peculiarity of the Buddhist religious philosophy. The above mentioned details also indicate that this Sariputra is the Sariputra of Buddhist tradition. The basis of this inference is that the initial verses of this chapter have been used with some verbal variations in the Sutrakritanga commentary by Sheelank and the commentary of Shatdarshan Samuchchaya to clarify the Buddhist view point. According to the traditional belief, he is supposed to be an Arhat Rishi or Pratyek Buddha of the period of Mahavir. Being a contemporary of Buddha, he is automatically proved to be a contemporary of Mahavir as well.
39. SANJAY
The thirty-ninth chapter of Rishibhashit is about the Arbat Rishi named Sanjay. Besides Rishibhasit, Sanjay finds a mention in Uttaradhyayan285 also. Although there are many persons named Sanjay, mentioned in Jain tradition, they are not connected, in any way, with Sanjay of Rishibhashit. However, there is no scope of any doubt that the Sanjay mentioned in 18th chapter of Uttaradhyayan is same as the Sanjay of Rishibhashit.
According to Uttaradhyayan he was the King of Kampilpur. Once he went for hunting in Keshar park and shot a deer. Finding the deer near the feet of meditating Acharya Gardabhill, he got afraid of the monk's curse and begged his pardon. Impressed by the Acharya's discourse about goodwill and Ahimsa, he abdicated the throne and became a monk disciple of Gardabhill. The incident of this deer hunt has been accepted by him in the fifth couplet of this chapter, where he says, "I am not concerned with the tasty meals and gorgeous abodes for which Sanjay goes into the jungles to kill deer" 286 No further proofs are needed to show that Sanjaya of Rishibhashit and Uttaradhyayan is one person.
The chapter of Uttardhyayan under reference is titled Sanyatiya", which is not correct; it should be titled 'Sanjayiya'. According to Uttardhyayan, he was a disciple of Gardabhill. In the thirtythird chapter of Rishibhashit it has been mentioned that due to the company of benevolent friends, Sanjay, the king of Mithila, attained godhood. (33/16). But this Sanjay is the King of Mithila whereas Sanjay of Uttaradhyayan is the King of Kampilpur; as such they cannot be taken as
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