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Rishibhashit : A Study
Shukdev is also said to be his son. Vaishampayan was his chief disciple. Mahabharat contains detailed description of his life and preachings; however, it contains more of pre-history and less of history. On the basis of the details in the three traditions, Jain, Buddhist, and Vedic, it may be infered that he was some historic person of the pre-historic period. But the absence of his name in the ancient Upanishadic literature is worth a consideration. Of course, his father Parashar and Parashar's sons have been mentioned there.298
His preachings compiled in Rishibhashit direct towards changing desire into desirelessness. 299 In other words it is a message of sublimating ambition. He says that it is because of desires that man gets sorrows. Under the influence of desires he neglects every one including parents teacher, king, and gods, Desire is at the root of loss of wealth, bondage, seperation from king, life, and death. As such desires should be conquered; because desirelessness is the basis of bliss. The second and third verses of this chapter are also available in the thirty sixth chapter of Rishibhashit with little verbal variations. Similarly the statement, 'Jaha Thamam Jaha Balam Jadha Viriyam' can also be found in Dashvaikalik.
41. INDRANAG
The forty first chapter of Rishibhashit is about the Arhat Rishi named Indranag. Besides Rishibhashit Indranag's mention is also available in Avashyak-niryukti,300 Visheshavashyak-bhashya,301 Avashyak-churni, 302 Haribhadra Vritti of Avashyak, 303 and Sheelank commentary of Acharang,304 He was famous as a child ascetic. Ganadhar Gautam contacted him. He is said to be an inhabitant of Jeernapur (Jinnapur). I have not been able to find any thing about him from Buddhist and Vedic traditions. Jain sources also confirm that he was a contemporary of Mahavir; this also has traditonal acceptance.
As regards the preachings of Indranag in Rishibhashit are concerned, he first of all states that the penance or good deed done for livelihood is meaningless. A man indulging in mundane passion destroys himself. Monkhood should not he made a profession. Amonk should also not earn his living through teaching, magical spells, massage carrying prophecizing etc. Thus the theme of his discourse is to practice discipline, rising above the mundane desires. Generally speaking this preaching can be found at many places. The thirteenth verse of this chapter is available verbatim in Uttaradhyayan and Dhammapad. Similarly the sixteenth verse is also available in the twelfth chapter of Rishibhashit,
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