________________
34
Ambādevi, who being appeased with it, said, “Only eight months remain in the life of your Guru. Return, therefore, to Anahillapur Pāțan. Déva Sûri returned from there to Pātana and informed his teacher about what the goddess had told him
In the mean while, a debater named Dévabodhi who had been very proud on account of defeating many debaters, chanced to come to Pāțaņa He was under the impression that there was no person to be a match for him No sooner did he come, then he hung the following difficult verse on the gate of the royal-plaace.
The meaning of the verse was very difficult None ercept a shrewd scholar was in a position to explain the meaning. If none could explain it, the reputation, not only of the scholars, but also of the kingdom would be lost Therefore, the King prayed to Goddess Ambadevi to suggest any way. The goddess suggested the name of Déva Sûri The King invited him and requested him to explain the verse. As a stream flowing through a hilly country pierces & rock, in the same way, Déva Sūri pierced through the meaning. The verse was interpreted as follows: The followers of C’ārvaka believe in one proof-ie Pratyaksa
(apparent ). The followers of Buddha and Vaibesikas believe in two proofs
Pratyaksa and Anūmâna (apparent and inferred) The followers of Sânkhya Philosophy believe in three proofs :
Pratyakşa, Āgama and Anûmana (Apparent, of the Sacred writing and of the inference) The Naiyāyikas believe in four proofs-Pratyakşa, Anūmāna, Āgama and Upamâna (Apparent, guess
ing, of the holy scriptures and of analogy) Prabhākars believe in five proofs-Pratyaksa, Anūmāna, Āga
ma, Upamāna and Arthāpatti.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
