Book Title: Rushibhashit Sutra
Author(s): Vinaysagar, Sagarmal Jain, Kalanath Shastri, Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
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century A.D. Similarly according to Sthanang the tenth chapter of Antakritdasha was about Ambad Parivrajak. However, this chapter is not found in the present edition of Antakritdasha. Aupapatik has also described in details the system of conduct of Ambad and other Brahman Parivrajaks. However, complete analysis of all that is not possible here, due to lack of space.
Aupapatik narrates in details the incident of how Ambad Parivrajak and his disciples courted death, accepting the vow of Sall ekhana, (fast till death) in a forest on the banks of the Ganges while they were on their way to Purimtaal town. It was during summer, on sand, and was done following their discipline of not taking water without being offered by someone. For a comparative study this narration is important and presents a vivid picture of the conduct followed by the tradition of Ambad Parivrajak. In the Jain canonical literature Ambad has been mentioned everywhere with due reverence.
In Buddhist tradition199 we find a mention of Ambatth Manavak. According to the Buddhist tradition Ambatth was a disciple of Brahman Poshkar Saati. He had a debate with Bhagvan Buddha on the subject of superiority of Brahmans. Whereas Ambatth accused the Shakyas of belonging to lower caste, other people demeaned Ambatth by calling him son of a slave woman. In conclusion of this discussion Buddha asserts the importance of conduct in the formulation of the caste system. In this narration the point worth considering is that Ambatth has been addressed as Krishnayan or belonging to the lineage of Krishna Rishi. As is known, a school of Brahman Parivrajaks is named Kanha according to Aupapatik. It is a possibility that the Krishna Rishi mentioned in Ambatth-sutta was varisava kanha of Rishibhashit.
As far as the Vedic tradition200 is concerned, the term Ambashtha has been mentioned as a particular clan-name which originated with Brahman father and Vaishya mother. In Buddhist tradition this name is used for the clan originating from Kshatriya father and Shoodra mother. As regards the mention of Ambad or Ambashtha as a Rishi, both Vedic and Buddhist traditions do not provide any information.
190 इसिभासियाई सुत्ताई
