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16
SOME INTERVENING STORIES IN GUNAPĀLA'S JAMBUCARIYAM *
Boxing a tale into tale has been the practice with the Jaina writers whether of secular or religious literature. Sometimes it so happens that the main narrative recedes in the background and the intervening story or the illustrative parable becomes all in all as for example in Dhanesvara's Surasundaricariyam. This, of course, offends the artistic sense and sensibility but the Jaina writers are not worried about this. Even when they write, they preach and the role of a preacher cannot normally fall in line with that of an artist, pure and simple. Nothing which did not contribute to the cultivation of moral habits and elevation of the spirit could be accommodated in the dormitory of their mind and soul. Therefore, they allowed their moral muse to run her own course and sometimes she ran unfettered. But we should never forget that their goal in writing as in life was to enlighten, not to entertain; was to edify, not to amuse. Viewed as such, their literary works shone, despite the contrary opinions of the purists, as rich ornaments embellished with line jewels and gems of intervening stories and illustrative parables fitted in with finesse at places where they should. They merely gave different direction to their talent as was cantigent to their being spiritual teachers, first and last. Otherwise they were capable and qualified as artists nonpareil. This is evident in their very works from the gorgeous descriptions of cities, mountains, and rivers; of harems and royal courts; of natural scenes and sceneries; of man, women and children; of monks and puns; of merchants and moneyed men; of battles and wars; of army and armaments; of arts and sciences and of parks and and pavillions.
Gunapala's Jarnbucariyam edited for the first time by Acharya Jinavijayaji Muni in 1959 and published in the Bhavan's Singhi Jaina Series as No. 44 has got a number of illustrative stories and parables-as many as twentyfour. They are much more instructive than real history and also the most effective means of presenting and impressing both truth and duty. Though they are drawn from the passing scenes of life, Gunapala's genius is seen at its best in the judicious selection and effective employment of these small tales and parables. What would have been achieved by walking, has been achieved in strides. Gunapala flourished, almost certainly, in the eighth decade of the eleventh century of the Vikram Era. His Jambucariyam is a Prakrit Dharmakatha, in prose and verse, having sixteen uddegas and giving a narrative account of the life of Jambu, the first patriarch of Jain Church after the last and the twenty-fourth Tirthamkara, Mahāvira.
* Bharatiya Vidya, Vol. XXX, 1970. AS-19
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