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BHAGAVADGĪTĀ AND UTTARĀDHYAYANASŪTRA : A COMPARATIVE ASPECT
Bhagavadgitā (BG) forms along with Upanisads and Brahma-sutras the famous prasthānatrayī sacred to the Vedic Hindus. Uttaradhyayanasūtra (Uttarā) forms part of Jain agama consisting of 45 sacred texts-sacred to the Śvetāmbara Jains. A comparative look at these two texts reveals the following facts:
(i) Barring a few verses which speak rather slightingly of the Vedas1 BG holds the Vedas in great reverence. Krsna, for instance, declares: "I am the holy Om, the three Vedas-the Ṛk, the Saman, and the Yajus also."2 Elsewhere Krsna while revealing some manifestations of his divine glory declares: 'Of the Vedas I am the Veda of songs'.3 But Uttara denounces Vedas as the causes of sins. In the famous dialogue between the Brahmanical Purohita (Bhṛgu) and his two sons who wish to turn monks, with a view to dissuading his sons Bhṛgu says: "Those versed in the Vedas say that there will be no better world for men without sons. My sons, after you have studied Vedas, and fed the priests, after you have placed your own sons at the head of your house, and after you have enjoyed life together with your wives, then you may depart to the woods as praiseworthy sages." The young men replied: "The study of the Vedas will not save you; the feeding of Brāhmaṇas will lead you from darkness to darkness, and the birth of sons will not save you... Pleasures bring only a moment's happiness, but suffering for a very long time, intense suffering, but slight happiness; they are an obstacle to the liberation from existence, and are a very mine of evils."4 Elsewhere the text says: "The binding of animals (to the sacrificial pole), all the Vedas, and sacrifices, being causes of sin, cannot save the sinner; for his works (or karma) are very powerful.""
(ii) BG describes the universe as God's creation. For example, Krsna says: "All this visible universe comes from my invisible Being... I am the source of all beings, I support them all.. At the end of the night of time all things return to
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