Some Jaina Canonical Sutras

Author(s): Bimla Charn Law
Publisher: Royal Asiatic Society

Page 52

CHAPTER VII JNĀTĀDHARMAKATHA (NĀYADHAMMAKAHÃO)
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The text of Nāyādhammakahão (Skt. Jñātūdharmakathā) which is also called Nāvasūva is the sixth anga of the bara Jain canon. It comes under narrative literature of the Jainas. It is very useful from etymological and grammatical standpoint. Ardha-Māgadhi Naya is the same as Sanskrit Jñāta. The title may be explained as 'Stories for the dhamma of Naya' (Jnātr), i.e. Mahāvira, who is also called Jñātrputra. Nāya or Nātaputta. The text is divided into two siyakkhandhas called Nāya and Dhammakahā. The former has nineteen ajjhayaņas and the latter, ten vaggas. It contains didactic and religious narratives. The stories found here explain the teachings of Mahāvīra. The text also contains an exposition of elements.
The story of a mariner reminds us of the Pāli l'alāhussa. Jātaku (Jāt., No. 196). The winged horse occurs in both. Besides legends and fables we find romantic stories and adventures, tales of robbers, mariners, etc. The stories of Dovāi (Draupadi) and a pious layman as found in this text have been introduced to show the destiny of persons through various rebirths. The story of the former is no doubt a corruption of the Mahābhārata legend of Draupadlī's marriage with five Pandava brothers as pointed out by Winternitz.
The text furnishes us with the names of some of the non-Aryan tribes and refers to eighteen languages, four Vedas, and saștitantra, sixteen diseases, etc. There are some graphic descriptions of the bed-chamber of Dhārani, of a demon, six seasons, etc. Some interesting details may be gathered from this text. Kālī, an old maiden (vuddukumārī) joined Pārsva’s order and was entrusted to Pupphacūla, the head of the nuns (Nāyā., II, i, pp. 222ff.). The succession by primogeniture was then in vogue. The kingdom descended directly to the king's eldest son and all was right if the king had an heir, but if he died heirless it was a great problem for the ministers (Ibid., 14, 153ff.). The palaces are described in this text as lofty. They had domes (thūbhiyā) and their floors were richly decorated with various kinds of gems and jewels (Ibid., I, p. 22). The harem (oroha) was a part of the royal pomp (Ibid., 16, p. 185). Sīhaguhá (mountain cave) is mentioned as a corapalli which was located in an unapproachable mountain ravine (Ibid., 18, p. 209). A robber