Studies in Jain Literature

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

Page 96

UTTARĀDHYAYANASŪTRA ON BRAHMANISM
It is indeed difficult to settle questions such as 'whether Jain agama texts are earlier or later than the Upanisads and the Epics, the Mahabharata (including the Bhagavadgītā) and the Rāmāyaṇa, and the like." Instead of delving into matters relating to chronology the present paper confines itself to investigating into the attitude of Uttaradhyayanasutra, one of the sacred and valuable texts of the Jain agama, towards Brahmanism. Of the thirty-six lectures constituting this text only three lectures called Hariesijjam (Lecture XII), Ūsuyārijjaṁ (Lecture XIV) and Jannaijjam (Lecture XXV) deserve our special attention as they dwell upon some few noteworthy features of Brahmanism.
In the course of his dialogue with his two sons the Purohita, with a view to dissuading them from adopting ascetic life, sets forth before them the Brahmanical ideal :
"Those versed in the Vedas say that there will be no better world for men without sons.
My sons, after you have studied the 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" (XIV. 8-9).
The sons spoke to him these words:
"The study of the Vedas will not save you2, the feeding of Brāhmaṇas will lead you from darkness to darkness, and birth of sons will not save you. Who will assent to what you said?
Pleasures bring only a moment's happiness but suffering for a very long time...they are an obstacle to the liberation from existence, and are a very mine of evils. While a man...seeks for wealth, he comes to old age and death. We will just now adopt Dharma. After adopting it we shall not be born again."
In short, this lecture (XIV) strongly recommends the ascetic ideal and pooh-poohs the Brahmanic ideal.