Rushibhashit Sutra

Author(s): Vinaysagar, Sagarmal Jain, Kalanath Shastri, Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 183

Deshotkat are those who accept the existence of soul but maintain it not to be the doer. In fact, this non-activity of soul eliminates the basis of defining concepts like good or bad deeds, bondage etc. Due to this partial acceptance of materialism they are called Deshotkat.
Similarly Sarvotkat are those who deny the existence of fundamentals and through vacuum accept the origin of all creation. They believe that there is no fundamental that continues to exist every where at all times. Thus they propagate nihilism and that is why they are called Sarvotkat. This must have been the basis of non-existentialism.
Detailing these five types of utkat or materialists and giving brief details of principles of materialism the soul as an entity separate from body has been denied. It has been stated that after destruction the body is not created again; that is, there is no rebirth. This life is the only life, there is no other world, there is no fruit of good or bad deeds, there is no rebirth and their is nothing like good or evil deed. The body between head and toe is the living being or soul. As burnt seeds do not sprout, a destroyed body is not created again.
Thus this chapter presents pure materialistic theory which is also known as the Charvak philosophy in Indian philosophies. Mention of this type of materialistic doctrines is available in details in ancient Jain, Buddhist and Vedic literature. The thoughts propagated in this chapter are available in Sutrakritang!75 and Rajprashniyal76 also. Similarly Buddhist tradition also has parallel theories in Payasi-sutta. 177 As such, this chapter can be taken as representative of prevailent materialistic ideas of that period. Samvayangl78 mentions about 44 chapters of Rishibhashit. It is possible that this chapter may be a later addition to Rishibhashit. because this is the only chapter out of place with the other 44 chapters uniformly propagating spiritualistic ideas. The use of the term utkat for materialists is its originality. Also the five classifications : Dandotkat, Rajjootkat, Snetotkat, Deshotkat and Sarvotkat, are not available anywhere else, making it a speciality of Rishibhashit. The classifications like dehatmavadi, 182 HYIPTS as