Book Title: Rushibhashit Sutra
Author(s): Vinaysagar, Sagarmal Jain, Kalanath Shastri, Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
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are inevitable in the process. Thus a practicing mendicant has been asked to remain aloof from pleasure and pain. The Samveg (fear of the evil) of common man and Nirved (detachment) of good person are signs of humility if they are desireless. Embracing the middle path in context of living in abode or jungle, Sariputra states that for a brave, who has won over the senses, there is no difference between jungle or a church, For a soul indulging in itself, jungle and 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 Arhat Rishi named Sanjay. Besides Rishibhashit, 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 become a monk disciple of Gardabhill. The incident of this deer hunt has been accepted by him in the
Rishibhashit: A Study 211
