Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 173

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
"Brāhmaṇo asya mukhamāsīd bāhū Rājanyaḥ kṣtah /
Urūtadasya yad-Vaisyah padbhyām Südro ajāyata."||
This divine theory of the origin of the four Varņas (orders) as referred to in the RgVeda is refuted by the Jain texts and interpreted by them in a different way.
It is stated in the Jaina Mahāpurānathat Lord Rşabhadeva advised the people to earn their livelihood by following six professions, viz. sword, pen, agriculture (cultivation), art and learning of Sāstras, Commerce, arts and crafts.
And he first established three orders (Varnas), viz. the Ksatriyas, the Vanijas, and the Sūdras on the basis of their respective occupations and qualities."
After Rşabhadeva his son, Bharata created the Brāhmaņical order out of those who were virtuous and studied and taught others, performed sacrifices, received gifts, etc. ... The interpretation of these passages furnished by the Mahapurāna cuts across the divine origin of the Caturvarņas of the RgVeda, but it carries the same spirit of the later caste system as embodied in all the Jaina,' Buddhist and Brāhmanical works.
The social order based on qualification and occupation as revealed in the Jaina Mahāpurāna is also supported by the Gita in which it is explained by Lord Krşņa to Arjuna thus
"Four Varņas are created by me according to the division of qualification and vocation (or action).”
“Cāturvarṇyam mayä sýstaṁ guņakarmavibhāgaśaḥ."?
1 Mahāpurāna, (Jñānapīțha edition), Parva, 16, LL, 179, 180. ? Ib, L., 183, 184. 8 Ib, Vol. 1, P. 16, L 246 ; and Vol. II, Parva 31, VV 20-22. 4 Uttaradhyayana Sutra 25, 31. Vivāga Suya 5, p. 33 ;
Acara nga Niryuktů 19, 27. 5 Buddhist works -See the Dialogues of the Buddha 1, 148,
Vinaya-pitaka 11, 4, 160. 6 Yajurveda etc.--Refer to Vedic Age, p. 449-51 ; Manu 10,
4; Mahabharata Santi parva, Ch. 296 VV. 5,6; Arthasāstra, Book 1, Chapter III. 8. Gitā 4, 13.