Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 193

168
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
[Ch. IV
initiated, leading the life of an unmarried religious student and observing continence in youth.
"Komāriyae pavvajjāe komāraeņam bambhaceraväsenam
aviddhakanņae ceva samkhāņam paạilabhāmi",
A great stress has been laid on the attainment of Brahmacarya (chastity) in the text which tells that some one dwells in (practises) pure observance of chastity even without listening to Dharma (religion) explained by a Kevalin (omniscient) and others, and some one does not do so without listening to it."
Because he, the partial annihilation and suppression of whose conduct obscuring karmas bas taken place, dwells in pure Brahmacarya withiout listening to the religious discourse of a Kevalin and others, but he, whose conduct obscuring Karmas are not partially annihilated and suppressed, does not attain the chastity without listening to the religion explained by a Kevalin and others.
The importance of observance of chastity (Brahmacaryavāsa) as laid down in the Bhs is also greatly emphasized by the Chandogya Upanisad'. It teaches thus that "what the people call "Sacrifice' (yajña), Sacrificed' (ista!, Protracted sacrifice' (sattrāyana), 'Silent asceticism (mauna), 'a course of fasting' (anāśa. kāyana), and betaking oneself to hermit life in a forest (aranyāyana) are really the chaste life of a student of sacred knowledge. Because only through this life he attains that worldó (lokal, the soul (Atman), the protection of the real soul (Sat Atman)?, thinks and finds the imperishable soul and Ara and Nyn in the Brahmaloka where is the lake, 'Airan madiyan', affording refreshment and ecstasylo.
This Upanişad further lays stress upon the practice of chastity by instructing thus :
"Tau ha dyātrimsatam varsāni Brahmacaryamūsatuh Tau 2 Prajāpatiruvāca kimicchautāvavāsa tam" 211 11
1 Bhs, 15, 1, 550. 28 16, 9, 31, 365. 4.10 Chāndogya U pānisad, Ch. VIII, banda. 5. 11 1b, Ch. VIII, Kānda, 7. (India and Virocana went to
Prajāpati and practised Brahmacarya for 32 years). See the 13 principal Upanisads by Robert Ernest Hume, 2nd Edition ; p. 266 ; and for the text see Dasopanişads---edited by the Pandits of the Adyar Library, p. 204, 209.