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SOME JAINA CANONICAL SOTRAS
who was well versed in the Vedas, offered a sacrifice in Benares. Jayaghosa went to the sacrifice of Vijayaghosa to beg alms. He was refused alms by the priest. On account of this he was neither angry nor pleased as he always strove for the highest good. He spoke the following words to the priest who refused to give him alms: 'You do not know what is most essential in the l'edus nor in sacrifices, nor in the heavenly bodies, nor in duties. You do not know those who are able to save themselves and others. The priest kept quiet. He together with those assembled requested the great sage to tell them the most essential subject in the Vedas and the most essential in the sacrifice, etc. The great sage replied, "The most essential subject in the Vedas is the Agnihotra and that of the sacrifice is the purpose of the sacrifice, the first of the heavenly bodies is the moon and the best of Dharmas is that of Kāśyapa. He who has no worldly attachment after entering the Order, who does not repent after having become a monk and who takes delight in the noble words, is called a Brāhmaṇa. He who is free from love, hatred, and fear is called a Brühmana. A lean, selfsubduing ascetic who reduces his flesh and blood, who is pious, and who has reached Nirvana is a Brāhmana. He who thoroughly knows living beings and does not injure them in any of the three ways (by thoughts, words, and cleeds) is a Brāhmaṇa. He who does not speak untruth from anger, or from greed or from fear is a Brāhmaṇa. He who
t take anything which is not given to him is a Brāhmano. He who does not carnally love divine, human, and animal beings in thoughts, words, and deeds is a Brāhmana. He who is not defiled by pleasures is a Brāhmaṇa. He who is not greedy, who lives unknown, who has no house, and who has 10 friendship with householders is a Brahmana. He who has given up his former connections with his rolations and parents and who is not given to pleasures is a Brāhmana. One does not become a Áramaņa by the tonsure, nor a Brāhmaṇa by the sacred syllable Om, nor a Muni by living in the forest, nor a Tāpasa by wearing clothes of Kusagrass. One becomes a Sramana by equanimity, a Brāhmaṇa by chastity, a Muni by knowledge, and a Tāpasa by penance. One becomes a Brāhmaṇa or a Ksatriya, or a Vaisya, or a Sūdra by one's actions. He is a Brāhmaṇa who is exempt from all karma. The most excellent Brahmins who possess
1 C. Sullanipaita, Vāsett hasutta: Kammani brūhmano hoti, kummunā hoti abrāhmano, (V 650)-One becomes a Brāhmaṇa by work and one becomes a non-Brāhmana hy work. Cf. Brühmunavagga of the Dhammapada, Chap. XXVI.
