Book Title: Rushibhashit Sutra
Author(s): Vinaysagar, Sagarmal Jain, Kalanath Shastri, Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
View full book text
________________
though it appears ethical, would be considered as unethical. In this chapter, emphasizing detachmant, it has been shown that the detached practices alone lead to liberation. All ascetic practices done with attachment lead to hell. As such Bahuk appears to be a propagater of the path of detachment.
The name of Bahuk does not appear anywhere in the Buddhist tradition, 153 however there are mentions of Bahik and Bahi. It is difficult to surmise if these Bahi & Bahik are same. as Bahuk of Rishibhashit. In the Buddhist tradition the only information available is that they were disciples of Buddha; as such it is all the more difficult to give any conclusive comment about them.
As regards Vedic tradition 154 a Rishi named Bahuvrakta is mentioned. He is believed to have written some aphorisms in Rigveda. But it is hard to find some connection with Bahuk of Rishibhashit. Mahabharat 155 also mentions Bahuk. There he has been stated to be a warrior of the Vrishni clan. Also in Mahabharat, the name of the father of king Sagar is mentioned as Bahuk. King Nala was also known by the name Bahuk. But none of these mentions indicate that these names had any connection with the Bahuk mentioned in Rishibhashit. This matter is subject to further investigation and scholars should do some efforts in this direction.
15. MADHURAYAN
Madhurayan Arhat Rishi is the preacher of the 15th chapter of Rishibhashit. 156 He has not been mentioned anywhere else in Jain or Buddhist traditions. As such it is difficult to give any comment about his life and personality.
In this chapter many words have been used in some special context and meaning. As long as those words are not clearly understood the preachings of Madhurayan cannot be properly apprehended. In the context of the meaning of this chapter neither the Sanskrit commentators are clear nor the Hindi translation, based on these, by Manohar Muni is any clearer. The Hindi and English translations in this edition are also not without 174 इसिभासियाई सुत्ताई
