Studies in Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages

Author(s): B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 31

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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
(iii) Five-fold indulgence in himsa (pañcapayoga) (iv) Bhavahimsa
(v) Consequences of committing himsa
(vi) Mathematical calculation of the 108 types of himsa (vii) Role of guptis and samitis in the successful practice of ahimsa
Hence repetition and enumeration of these here would be neither necessary nor practicable. So I would pick up only the significant facets of ahimsa for our discussion here :
After duly defining himsa, the Acarya lays down the basic concept of ahimsa in Jainism :
jaha te na piyam dukkham taheva tesim pi jāna jivānam evam nacca appovamio jivesu hohi sadāR |
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Just as you do not like pain, so also other beings dislike it. Knowing this, treat them ever as your own self (and abstain from causing any injury to them).
This gaha reminds us the famous passage in the Ayaranga
Sutta:"
savve pana piyauya suha saya, |
dukkha padikula appiya vahā piya jivino, |
jiviu kāmā savvesim jiviyam piyam.
All beings are fond of life, like pleasure, hate pain, shun destruction, like life, long to live. To all life is dear.10
Then we also remember a similar gaha in the Dasaveyaliya
Sutta:11
savve jiva vi icchanti jīvām na marijjium |
tamhā pāṇi-vahām ghoram nigganthā vajjayanti nam |
All beings desire to live and not to be slain. Therefore, the Jaina monks avoid the horrible act of killing living beings.
An all sided consideration and scrutiny of this passage and these two gahas would indicate us that the passage in the Ayaranga Sutta could be rather a direct and close echo of what Mahavira