Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 186

Sec. I] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÜTRA 161 Sramanopāsakas, viz. the house holders' Vijaya, Ananda and Sudarśana (or Sunanda) of Rājagrha, Pingalaka of Srāvasti," Tāmali, the Mauryaputra of Tâmralipti, Pūraņa of Bebhela Sanniveśa in the Vindhyagiri," Nāgaputra Varuņa of Vaisāli, Rşibhadraputra of the town of Alabhikā and others, the well-todo householders of the town of Tungikā,' Gangadatta of Hastinapura, Revati of Mendhikagrāma, and the merchants, Sankha Srestki, Pokkali and others of Srāvasti, 10 Sudarśana Sresthi of Vānijyagrāma,11 Kārttikadatta Sresthi and eight thousand merchants of the town of Hastinapura's, the four merchants of Srāvasti, referred to by Gośäla Mankhaliputra in his story related to Ananda, the houseless monk and disciple of Lord Mahāvīra,18
Duties of the Gāhāvaīs and Vaniks
Duties of this third social order comprised study!', performing of own worship and sacrifice,1% offering of gifts, 16 cultivation, 17 cattle-breading, 18 trade and commerce19.
Hospitality*was considered as the most sacred duty of this class. It is stated in one scene laid in the city of Rājagrha that the three householders named Vijaya, Ānanda and Sudarsana individually entertained and honoured Lord Mahāvīra with abundant food and drink on the days of conclusions of his first, second and third monthly fasts respectively, during the period of his practice of severe a usterities."
The reference to four merchants of Srāvasti made by Gośāla Mankhaliputra clearly shows that the merchants used to
* BhS, 15, 1, 541. We find another reading of Sudarsana
viz. Sunanda. : 16, 2, 1, 90. 8 16, 3, 1, 134.
16, 3, 2, 144. 6 16, 7, 9, 303. 6 16, 11, 12, 433. 7 16, 2, 5, 107. 8 15, 16, 5, 577. 9 Ib, 15, 1, 557. 10 Ib, 12, 1, 437. 11 16,11, 11, 424. 12 1b, 18, 2, 618,
18 14, 15, 1, 547. 14 16, 3, 1, 134; 3, 2, 144; 7, 9, 303 ; 2, 5, 107, etc. 15 1b, 3, 1, 134; 3, 2, 144; 12, 1, 437, etc. 16 Ib, 2.5, 107. 17 16, 8, 5, 330, etc. 18 Ib. 3, 1, 334 ; 8, 5, 330, etc. 19 16, 2, 5, 107 ; 11, 11, 424 ; 12, 1, 437 ; 15, 1, 547 ; 18, 2, 618. 10 10, 12, 1, 437; 15, 1, 541.
31 lb, 15, 1, 541. 32 14, 15, 1, 547.
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