Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATŤ SÜTRA
[Ch. V
or the fourteenth day or the fifteenth day of the lunar halfmonth or the Tisya-punarvas u days or the three Cāturmāsī days or on auspicious days.
The following description of the two young bullockswhich were yoked to the cart of Rşabhadatta on his pilgrimage to Lord Mabāvīra at the Bahuśālaka Caitya throws a side light upon the rearing of the cattle with best care taken by the people of those days.
It is described that the two bullocks were endowed with the power of swiftness and yoked to the cart and they had equal hoofs, equal tails, equally polished horns and were more distinguished by golden ornaments round their necks, silverbells, the cotton naval ropes inlaid with gold and their heads furnished with the wreaths of blue lotuses. Wild Animals
The BLS presents a list of a number of wild animals. Some of them are injurious, ferocious and dangerous to life, while the others are non-injurious and playful and they are liked by the people.
Injurious wild animals—Siha (lion), Vaggha (tiger), Vaga (a class of ferocious animals), Diviyā (a class of tiger), Accha (bear), Taraccha (a class of tiger) and Paras sara (Sarabha or a fabulous wild animal which is stronger than the lion and elephant).
Non-injurious wild animals-Miya (deer)s and Golangüla (monkey).
Besides these, the text makes references also to a considerable number of other injurious and non-injurious lower animals of different species, both terrestrial and acquatic, birds, and insects. They are as follows:
Injurious Poisonous lower animals (Āśīvisa.Terrestrial)Vrścika-Jāti-āśāvişa (scorpion), Mandika.Jāti-āšīvisu (frog) and Uraga-Jāti-āśāvisa (snake).
1 Bh8, 9, 33, 380. 8 16, 1, 8, 65.
2 16, 7, 8, 288 ; 15, 1, 560. 4 Ib, 12, 8, 460. 6 Ib, 8, 7, 316