Sambodhi 2000 Vol 23

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 73

SHRIMAD RĀJACANDRA'S VIEWPOINT OF DHARMA
IN THE KĀVYAMĀLĀ
Dr. Sunanda Y. Shastri,
After deliberating over Srimad Rājachandra's writings, I came across "Kāvyamāla', published by 'Mumbaistha Paramśruta Prabhāvaka Mandal', in 1964. These are miscellaneous poems. Some have title indicating the content and some without any caption are rather strong flow of inner thoughts of him. No doubt, all his poems are some or other way connected with the spiritual thought. Many of his poems bear a secular hue and many depict his inner devotion to his alma mater Jaina philosophy. But, in each of these poems one does not miss his craving to translate his inner experience in the words. Such experiences, as we know, are beyond any perceptible boundary called “Religion' or 'sect'. After going through these poems, one thing struck me strongly, that he has very high concepts about 'Dharma'. He hardly connects the word 'Dharma' with the gross idea of "Religion as we understand. Therefore, I have tried to analyse his concepts about 'Dharma'. Tattvārthasutra defines 'Dharma' as - ‘उत्तमक्षमामार्दवार्जवशौचसत्यसंयमतपस्त्यागाकिञ्चन्यTarviforert:' l', i.e (1) supreme forgiveness - 37148947; (2) modesty - 41&a; (3) straight forwardness - 3415fa; (4) purity - gita; (5) truthfulness - HrT; (6) Self control - 444; (7) austerity - 74; (8) renunciation - RTT, (9) non-acquisition - 341 ER and (10) celibacy Teat. Similar definition is given in the Prasamaratiprakarana - viz.,
सेव्यः क्षान्तिर्दिवमार्जवशौचे च संयमत्यागौ।
सत्यं तपो ब्रह्माकिञ्चन्यानीत्येष धर्मविधिः ॥2 i.e. “This path of religious virtues which consists of supreme forgiveness, modesty, straight forwardness, purity, self control, renunciation, truthfulness, austerity, chastity, and non-acquisition should be resorted to (by the monks and householders.)." Definition in the Tattvārthasūtra and the Prasamaratiprakarana is based on Jain Agamic texts.
* Dept. of Sanskrit Uni. School of Languages, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad.